'Farewell my mentor, my leader’ - Moving Tribute to Mandela

Anti-apartheid struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada’s voice wavered yesterday as he paid a moving final tribute to his fellow freedom fighter and close friend Nelson Mandela.

Addressing the icon by their mutual nickname “Madala”, which means old man in Mandela’s Xhosa language, Kathrada hailed the integrity and selflessness of his ally of 67 years.

“Farewell my dear brother, my mentor, my leader,” the 84-year-old told the funeral service in Mandela’s rural boyhood village of Qunu in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.