They arrived on their motorcycles to bid a fallen icon goodbye.
Wearing blue jeans, black leather jackets, black boots and helmets, the bikers rode in formation past the Nelson Mandela Foundation. As they neared the entrance, they paid tribute by revving their engines to a deafening reverberation.
Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein was inside the foundation paying tribute to the former statesman.
As the engines roared outside, he stopped talking and everybody fell silent, listening to the bikes, then applauded in appreciation.
Continuing, Goldstein said to live like Mandela and continue in the paths and lessons he had taught would be the greatest honour to his legacy.
He said Mandela was vulnerable in prison, treated with contempt and denied visits from his wife.
“Yet, he never sought revenge.”
Ahmed Kathrada, who spent 26 years on Robben Island, said Mandela did not become president of South Africa on May 10, 1994, when he was sworn in. Instead, it happened when Polish far-right-wing immigrant Janusz Walus shot and killed SACP leader Chris Hani on April 10, 1993.
Kathrada said Mandela had appeared on TV and appealed for calm amid rising tension, stabilising the country, something then president FW de Klerk had been unable to do.
“His mission is done, it’s up to us to take it forward,” said Tokyo Sexwale. - The Star