South Africans in the UAE pay their respects to Nelson Mandela

DUBAI // The South African community in the UAE has paid tribute to Nelson Mandela’s legacy of peace and reconciliation.

Although many South Africans have feared this day would come for many months, news of his death still came as a devastating blow.

“He had been unwell for some time and I think many South Africans were expecting this but it still came as a shock when we heard the news,” said Melody Naidoo, who has lived in Dubai since 2009.

She was told of Mandela’s death by her husband.

“I am very sad by this news because South Africa and the world has lost an icon who had a profound effect on so many lives.”

Mrs Naidoo said she wanted to be in South Africa to pay her respects.

“As a South African with Indian heritage, I experienced first-hand the struggle for equality and how much of an impact Mr Mandela had,” she said. “He was a very humble man and a very gentle person.”

For John Deeb, acting president of the South African Business Council in Dubai, Mandela showed that conflicts could be effectively resolved only through peaceful means.

“Growing up, there was a big difference between how Mr Mandela was viewed by people in South Africa,” he said. “If you were black, he was a hero, but if you were white, you were indoctrinated into believing that he was evil.

“He really saved South Africa. If it wasn’t for him, the country would probably have been torn apart.”

Mandela’s show of goodwill and opposition to hatred once he was released from prison in 1990 was an example to all, Mr Deeb said.

“He was in his mid-90s and had some health issues so we were expecting this, but it doesn’t make it any easier,” he said.

“I was just about to go to bed when I heard on the news that he had died and it was a shock.

“I am sad for him and his family because he suffered a lot in life, but at least now he is at peace.”

Phebus Georgiades, who runs the Grand Grill South African restaurant at the Habtoor Grand resort in Dubai Marina, said he was saddened by the news but relieved that Mandela was no longer suffering.

“All our staff are South African and the mood is one of sadness, but we feel his suffering is over,” he said. “He went through a lot in his life, with 27 years in prison and then trying to bring the country together and also serving as our oldest president.”

Even before news of his death broke, text messages from family and friends in South Africa were being sent reporting the news, Mr Georgiades said.

He also met Mandela in 1998 during a retail conference.

“It was one of the greatest moments in my life,” he said. “He came across as a very humble man and he took the time to meet and greet everyone. I was in complete awe of him. There was no one like Nelson Mandela.”

South African Terri O’Kelly, 29, an IT administrator, said: “I remember the day Nelson Mandela lifted the Rugby World Cup trophy in Johannesburg with Francois Pienaar in 1995, uniting the rainbow nation.

“I was too young to be at the game but watched at home with my dad. I cried when Joel Stransky kicked the last drop goal. I remember after the game driving around Jo’burg and watching everyone high-fiving and hooting and waving the new flag.”

Neelam Bhika, 35, the assistant director of sales at the Address Hotels and Resorts, said: “I worked at the Saxon Boutique Hotel in Johannesburg between 2007 and 2008.

“It is the hotel in which Madiba penned his autobiography, The Long Walk to Freedom. I had the pleasure of seeing Madiba on a weekly basis and hosted his meetings with Oprah and the Clintons.

“But my most treasured moments were just watching him sit on his favourite chair reading when he visited us on a Thursday.”