During his 27 years behind bars for fighting apartheid, Mandela became a rallying symbol for those fighting South Africa's white-minority rule at home and abroad. His release in 1990 was the beginning of the end of apartheid, the system of legalised racial segregation the South African government enforced for more than 45 years.
When the country held its first multiracial elections in 1994, Mandela became the South Africa's first black president. He stepped down in 1999 after serving a single term.
One part of his legacy was his policy of non-retribution for those many years of apartheid and many acts of illegal killing, a wide variety of horrible abuse, false imprisonments, along with innumerable rape and sexual servitude of so many. The nation stood still to see what would happen as Mandela stood tall as the first black South African President and a remarkable peace overcame the country.
There may be no better person to speak of this than Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He speaks of being a small African boy of age nine and his mother, a domestic worker, are walking down the street. Passing the other way is a tall white man, a priest in a black cassock. As they pass on the street the priest glances at the boy's mother and tips his hat.
The young boy is blown away by this small gesture. Why would a white man tip his hat to a black woman? Looking back, he would call this occasion the defining moment of his life. Later, the priest would visit the boy for two years and sit by his bedside to chat when he caught tuberculosis.
The boy later came to see that the priest's actions were consistent with his beliefs; that every person is of significance and infinite value because they are created in the image of God.
The young boy would develop a passion for the message of Jesus and human rights. That one meeting and action changed his life. This story moved me strongly the first time I read it. That such a small action would set what has become such a significant man on his trajectory.
South Africa is again at the cross roads for when Nelson Mandela departs and his statesmanship is no longer there as a bulwark, we wait with baited breath and prayer that his life's model will unveil a lasting peace within South Africa.
Peter Rope is a Financial Economics and Theology graduate from Auckland.
Peter Rope's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/peter-rope.html