“We miss you” – Zelda la Grange’s letter to Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela’s former assistant Zelda la Grange laments a ’sharp decline in mutual respect’ in a letter on the first anniversary of the late statesman’s death.

Dear Khulu

You have been gone for almost a year now. Your passing has still not sunk in and the reality is difficult to accept.

We are grateful to be healthy and well. You would laugh at me telling you that I now have to wear glasses when I read. Yes, I’m becoming old and I can hear you responding with a laugh and your shoulders shrugging. My parents are well and so are my dogs. No new boyfriends to report on. Generally life has been mediocre since you left.

Your absence has also meant seeing less of people like Mum, Kathy, Uncle George and others. But we remain in touch and I know everybody misses you.

Khulu, I published my book, Good Morning, Mr Mandela, and it has been received so well. I am, however, still happy that you didn’t read it because I don’t consider myself a good enough writer to subject you to the experience of having to read my writing. I am reminded how I one day told you something had been “broadcasted” and you corrected me about four times, telling me that there is no such word as “broadcasted”. “It’s just ‘broadcast’,” you said.

I have also been reminded of the time I tried to be smart when I asked you whether a particular gentleman with the surname of Kunene was related to the Kunene brothers and you pointed out to me that that would be like thinking all the Bothas are family.

These are all things I remembered after the publication of my book. You would be happy to know that it has somehow contributed to nation-building. People still learn from you. My highlight has been a 10-year-old black girl who traced me and made a plan to meet me so she could tell me she wants to be like me when she grows up. I, of course, told her she needs some ambition in life. You would have enjoyed that.

We miss you.

Read the rest of the letter www.timeslive.co.za

via timeslive