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ssrmagazine.com
“FABRIC OF A REAL MAN”
Mandela was a real man and truly the man in the mirror. His 27 years in
prison reversed his numbers. When he finally gained his freedom he
was at the ripe age of 72. Being a real man also makes you human and
part of the aging system.
After reconciling the country’s differences, Mandela stepped down as
President in 1999 to make way for Thabo Mbeki. Men of his statue
seems to always have a “Lasting Wish”.
In researching Mandela’s path there is every indication that this wish
was hosting the single biggest sporting event in the world, the FIFA
World Cup. He had already brought the Rugby World Cup to South
Africa but that was perceived as the sport of white South Africans, while
Football was said to be the opposite. It was yet another way for the country to compromise and as revealed
at World Cup South Africa, both blacks and whites united under the Bafana Bafana umbrella.
Stepping down from the Presidency gave Mandela more time to get involved in educational projects, and
mediation missions around Africa. He also joined the fight against HIV/AIDS, which had taken the life of his
son and was at an epidemic proportion in Africa.
The well documented success of his public life, caused his private life to suffer somewhat. He marred three
times. His three wives Evelyn Massy, Winnie Madikizela and his present wife Graça Machel were great
choices, and with his six children deserve a lot of credit in whole or in part for contributing to Mandela’s
comfort, inspiration, experiences, stability, self worth and achievements.
Mandela first wife Evelyn,
was a nurse who worked at the Johannesburg General
Hospital. It was felt that their coming out may have occurred when they attended Walter (Nelson’s friend)
and Albertina Sisulu wedding in April of 1944 as boyfriend and girlfriend. Mandela was the Best Man and
Evelyn (Sisulu's first cousin) was a Bridesmaid. The rest is history as on July 15, 1944, Nelson and Evelyn
got married.
The couple marriage fragmented based on what was alleged to be Mandela’s political ambitions and her
spiritual beliefs. Obviously the differences were irreconcilable as the couple was divorced in 1955, after 13
years and four children.
They say that everyone has a cross to bear, but Nelson Mandela seemed to have had more than his share.
The three of his four children with Evelyn died. His daughter, Makaziwe, died at the age of 9 months and his
son Thembi was killed while he was in prison.
His second son, Mkgatho, died of AIDS leaving Mandela’s second daughter, also called Makaziwe (and
known as Maki) as Mandela’s only surviving child with Evelyn. Makaziwe migrated to the USA, and furthered
her studies.
Evelyn died of lung and respiratory complications and at the time of her death (it was published) Mandela
was in Trinidad and Tobago politicking the CONCACAF region to support South Africa’s bid to host the 2010
World Cup. Evelyn died April 30, 2004 at the age of 82. She remarried in 1998 to Simon Rakeepile, a retired
businessman and at the time she lived in Soweto in the southern part of Johannesburg. Mandela had cut
short his T&T trip short to return for her funeral.
In Mandela’s autobiography, ''Long Walk to Freedom,'' he described his relationship with Evelyn as an
irreconcilable conflict between politics and religion.
''I could not give up my life in the struggle, and she could not live with my devotion to something other than
herself and her family,'' he wrote. '
'I never lost my admiration for her, but in the end we could not make our marriage work.''
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