Johannesburg: Nelson Mandela, who was 95-years-old after a long struggle, against lung infection passed away on Thursday December 6. His iconic role in the South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement during the 20th century politics had gained him tremendous love and appreciation in his country as well as worldwide.

Nelson Mandela who was elected South Africa’s first black president after spending nearly three decades as a political prisoner, died at his Johannesburg home surrounded by his family, after a long battle against lung infection.

The South African president, Jacob Zuma, announced Mandela’s death.

He said, “Our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation has departed, our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father.”

Mandela had long affirmed that he wanted to quiet, but the clamor of quarreling family, hungry news media, politicians seeking fame and a national deluge of affection and loss, Mandela was bound to stay in the spotlight.

Reportedly Mandela gave into his sickness and died at his home at around 8.50 pm (South Africa local time) and according to his wishes; he will be buried in the village of Qunu, where he grew up.

Acclaimed with the Nobel Peace, that Mandela and de Klerk had been jointly awarded the in 1993 for their role in the ending of apartheid.

Derived from the Afrikaans word for “apartness,” apartheid was a brutally enforced system that discriminated politically and economically against “non-whites” and separated the races in schools, buses, housing and even public toilets and beaches.