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CNN Saturday Morning News
Walter Sisulu is Honored in South Africa
Aired May 17, 2003 - 07:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ROBIN MEADE, CNN ANCHOR: In South Africa, they are mourning the death yet celebrating the life of the man they called Tata, or Father.
Mike Hanna is joining us live now from Soweto with more on Walter Sisulu -- Mike.
MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Donna, the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to Sisulu is now approaching the cemetery where he will be finally laid to rest. The anti-apartheid leader died a few days before his 91st birthday in the arms of his wife, Albetina (ph), a wife of nearly 60 years.
He was an absolute icon of the anti-apartheid movement, spending decades in prison with his old friend and comrade Nelson Mandela.
Earlier there was a formal farewell at a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in Soweto where tens of thousands of people gathered to pay their last respects. And among those who paid tribute was the very same Nelson Mandela. This is what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NELSON MANDELA, FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT: Today we stand at the grave (UNINTELLIGIBLE) one of the greatest among that generation of great freedom fighters. We take leave of a man of whom I have already said, in these sad days since his death, that from the moment when we first met, he has been my friend, my brother, my keeper, my comrade.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNA: Mandela also said, "Part of us goes with Walter Sisulu's passing."
Walter Sisulu will be laid to rest here within the next few minutes, the end of an era. And in one of his last interviews, Walter Sisulu said, "I would like to be remembered as a man who spread humanity and peace," Donna.
MEADE: You know, let me ask you a question here. In what way did his role, perhaps, as a moral authority after the fall of apartheid affect politics there?
HANNA: A very, very important role that Sisulu played in particularly that figure. He took no formal office. He did not accept the trappings of power. But he was always there behind the scenes. People were seeking in his advice, including Nelson Mandela.
He was absolutely adamant that the principles in which the anti- apartheid struggle were forged, nonracism, belief in equality of all races, and that belief in humanity were absolutely fundamental to South Africa as it moved into transition from apartheid to the nonracial democracy that it is today.
And he provided that moral fiber, that moral authority that kept the African National Congress together in those difficult times of negotiation with the old apartheid government. And his colleagues, including Mandela, say without Sisulu, it may not all have happened.
MEADE: You know, we hear from different people about how the dignitaries have responded to his death. But what about the people on the street, Mike?
HANNA: Well, it's been amazing, the absolute outpouring of love and affection that has been apparent in the days since Walter Sisulu died in the arms of his wife. He has struck a chord. He used to in the past struck a chord in the common man and woman in this country, mainly because, it would appear, of his humility, because of his refusal to take the front.
But at the same time, a recognition of the steel that was part of his character, his ability to be able to create unity where there were divisions. He held together, in all those decades in Robbin (ph) Island, people like Mandela, like Kathrada (ph), like Gobin Mbeki (ph), people who were arguing, fighting about what form a future South Africa would take.
When they got into debates in which there was no end, they would turn to Sisulu. He was the one who would create that point of agreement between them. And this was recognized by the people of South Africa, recognized perhaps more than if he'd been the formal politician and had taken high public office.
And in that, in the end, is what he will both best be remembered for, perhaps, his humility.
MEADE: All right, Mike Hanna, thank you so much, live today, talking about a beloved leader in the struggle against apartheid there in South Africa.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 17, 2003 - 07:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ROBIN MEADE, CNN ANCHOR: In South Africa, they are mourning the death yet celebrating the life of the man they called Tata, or Father.
Mike Hanna is joining us live now from Soweto with more on Walter Sisulu -- Mike.
MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Donna, the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to Sisulu is now approaching the cemetery where he will be finally laid to rest. The anti-apartheid leader died a few days before his 91st birthday in the arms of his wife, Albetina (ph), a wife of nearly 60 years.
He was an absolute icon of the anti-apartheid movement, spending decades in prison with his old friend and comrade Nelson Mandela.
Earlier there was a formal farewell at a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in Soweto where tens of thousands of people gathered to pay their last respects. And among those who paid tribute was the very same Nelson Mandela. This is what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NELSON MANDELA, FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT: Today we stand at the grave (UNINTELLIGIBLE) one of the greatest among that generation of great freedom fighters. We take leave of a man of whom I have already said, in these sad days since his death, that from the moment when we first met, he has been my friend, my brother, my keeper, my comrade.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNA: Mandela also said, "Part of us goes with Walter Sisulu's passing."
Walter Sisulu will be laid to rest here within the next few minutes, the end of an era. And in one of his last interviews, Walter Sisulu said, "I would like to be remembered as a man who spread humanity and peace," Donna.
MEADE: You know, let me ask you a question here. In what way did his role, perhaps, as a moral authority after the fall of apartheid affect politics there?
HANNA: A very, very important role that Sisulu played in particularly that figure. He took no formal office. He did not accept the trappings of power. But he was always there behind the scenes. People were seeking in his advice, including Nelson Mandela.
He was absolutely adamant that the principles in which the anti- apartheid struggle were forged, nonracism, belief in equality of all races, and that belief in humanity were absolutely fundamental to South Africa as it moved into transition from apartheid to the nonracial democracy that it is today.
And he provided that moral fiber, that moral authority that kept the African National Congress together in those difficult times of negotiation with the old apartheid government. And his colleagues, including Mandela, say without Sisulu, it may not all have happened.
MEADE: You know, we hear from different people about how the dignitaries have responded to his death. But what about the people on the street, Mike?
HANNA: Well, it's been amazing, the absolute outpouring of love and affection that has been apparent in the days since Walter Sisulu died in the arms of his wife. He has struck a chord. He used to in the past struck a chord in the common man and woman in this country, mainly because, it would appear, of his humility, because of his refusal to take the front.
But at the same time, a recognition of the steel that was part of his character, his ability to be able to create unity where there were divisions. He held together, in all those decades in Robbin (ph) Island, people like Mandela, like Kathrada (ph), like Gobin Mbeki (ph), people who were arguing, fighting about what form a future South Africa would take.
When they got into debates in which there was no end, they would turn to Sisulu. He was the one who would create that point of agreement between them. And this was recognized by the people of South Africa, recognized perhaps more than if he'd been the formal politician and had taken high public office.
And in that, in the end, is what he will both best be remembered for, perhaps, his humility.
MEADE: All right, Mike Hanna, thank you so much, live today, talking about a beloved leader in the struggle against apartheid there in South Africa.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
