It was with shock and a feeling of loss, that we learnt last Thursday evening that our struggle icon, Nelson Mandela, had finally passed away.

However, he has left all of us, locally, nationally and internationally, with a good prescription for astute leadership, in that vengeance is not the way to go if you want to inculcate everlasting peace in the world. He was, and always will be, the perfect example of what a true leader should be.

The nation and the world have been in mourning for the past week and will continue so, but I just hope that all leaders will take a leaf out his book of wisdom, which he displayed as leader, in prison and even more effectively later when he was released and presided over the negotiations for a new dispensation in South Africa.

The Rainbow Nation was created under his leadership and today the lives of most ordinary people have been changed for the better, but a warning though – that his comrades will,have to continue from where he left off. If we want his spirit to rest in peace, we should begin to do things the right way and not discriminate against anyone.

Humility and contentment were two of his strongest weapons, which enabled him to lead the ANC and the country as a whole. He was in the favour of all the people of South Africa and the world, including the opposition parties, who never treated him with kid gloves. They engaged truthfully and his reconciliation and social cohesion principles worked for the better, to create a new society in South Africa.

We need to uphold his principles, legacy and humility, then this country will continue to be a better place to live in, for centuries to come.

Lala ngoxolo Madiba!