Pieter worked as a South African Civil servant during the period prior and post Nelson Mandela becoming President.

 

He recalled Madela had a remarkable leadership style, which unified people, with his  powerful presence.  He could disarm his enemies with a smile.  He would always see a bigger picture, with goals beyond himself.  Through his leadership, he gave hope to all people around the world.

 

When Madela took Presidency in the 1994 elections, his main aim was to reconcile differences, to unity of all people of South Africa, and did so by having 2 vice Presidents, both former President FW de Klerk and Thabo Mbeki, as well as a mixed cabinet – to show the people of South Africa to join in unity, rather than tear each other apart with division, with this move about reconciliation and amnesty.  While past transgressions were not forgotten, he wanted people to be able to talk about them without balme.  Joining the civil service into one, instead of separate structures based on race, as a way to bring country together.

 

This process allowed speaker, Du Plessis, the ability to express his own sadness for past atrocities, something he had not been able to do in the past.

 

Pieter provided some highlights and quotes of his many years’ experience working with Mandela, both as President and also as an ambassador for South Africa on the global stage.

 

The 1995 Rugby World Cup, was special for Mandela – he was not a fan of rugby, but was worried about what the mainly white South African spectators would think and react to him when he entered stadium.  He was deeply concerned that he wanted it to show unity, and to use the sporting occasion to show solidarity.

 

In 1997 Pieter welcomed Mandela to a special event, and he arrived with his usual big smiles and “madiba” shirt, but requested to go straight to the kitchen to meet with the staff who had prepared the banquet.  He then brought the kitchen staff into hall, dancing and singing in thanks.

 

After the end of apartheid, there was the need to consolidate South Africa’s foreign policy for direction the new country would head. Pieter went to Washington DC while president was President Bush.

 

Mandela was opposed to the war in Iraq, but agreed to meet with President Bush, who at the time was low in polling, so thought a meeting Mandela would boost his appeal to voters.  When the meeting took place, Mandela said to Bush “You are a young man but surrounded by war dinosaurs – who took world into war that was unnecessary”.

 

Around this time, a young Barak Obama was keen to meet Mandela, and although weak at the time, Mandela said to the journalists, meet the next president of the US.

 

Mandela died 2013, with his funeral the first ever to be attended 4 US presidents, 4 UK Prime Ministers and many UN leaders.  Subsequently, the UN made 18^th July, Nelson Mandela Day.

 

Pieter’s favourite Nelson Mandela quote is:

 

Peter moved to New Zealand 2010, as his wife took on employment with the University of Otago in cello. He finds our culture, people, sport and food are similar to South Africa, and very much calls Dunedin home.