Robinson: Mandela ‘lived the values he talked about’

Former president Mary Robinson has paid tribute to Nelson Mandela as a man “who lived the values he talked about”.

Ms Robinson represented Ireland as president when Mandela became the first democratically elected leader of South Africa in 1994.

“The honour of representing Ireland at his inauguration was extraordinary. After all, there had been fighting before the voting — and then the long lines of those who voted — and how he created the ‘rainbow nation’ by forgiving his enemies. He had one of his jailors at his inauguration,” she said.

“The night before, I had been with Desmond Tutu and Leah, his wife. Tutu said to me ‘Mary, can you imagine what is happening in this country?’ and the joy in his eyes. Then two years later, I had the honour of making a full State visit to South Africa,” she said.

Mrs Robinson said Mandela was such an inspiring figure because he practised the ideals he preached, “the best of us”. “He lived the values that he talked about, absolutely lived them. The Long Walk to Freedom, the struggle that he made, the reconciling, the peace that he made... he was very strong but he was also very human,” she said.

Ms Robinson said his human side was reflected in a wicked sense of humour. She also revealed Mandela was “a great flirt”.

“I had a very attractive Indian/South African with me when I went to see him in his home. She had been with him as a junior staffer before she joined the office of high commissioner and as soon as he saw her he turned and said, ‘Ah, I remember you now’ with full approval,” she said.

Mrs Robinson said Mandela’s greatest legacy will be if South Africa can be re-energised through his death by going back to the values by which he lived. She called on the country to “remember the emphasis he placed on the inclusive nature of that rainbow nation”.

She said: “The divides and inequalities in our world are growing and why is it that we are so sad, that we feel a loss as though it were a family member? Why are we so bereft? Because he was the best of us, the best of our values.”

Ms Robinson spoke about the growth of her friendship with Mandela since her time as president and said he had told her about how his years in prison changed him.

“He turned to me and he said, ‘Mary, you know, there was a time when they called me a terrorist’ and, of course, he had taken up arms. He also learned in prison and he spoke about this saying that he learned, that ‘what you have to do is reconcile and shake the hands of those who are on the other side’ and I think that’s very important for Africa,” she said.