Members of Mr Mandela's protection detail at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory
Mrs Graça Machel and members of the Mandela family paid a moving tribute to members of Mr Mandela’s security detail at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory on 22 February 2014.
Mrs Machel thanked members of Madiba’s protection team at the end of what she referred to as a difficult week, in which the family had acknowledged the contributions of all the individuals on Mr Mandela’s support staff.
The security team had developed a more intimate and personal relationship with Mr Mandela and his family than most people did. Mrs Machel acknowledged this intimacy and the almost familial bonds that developed between the protectors and the protected in their years together.
The event was both emotional and light-hearted. The stories that were shared were touching and humorous, like those shared between members of a close family who had not seen each other for a while.
Madiba’s granddaughter, Ndileka Mandela, who celebrated her birthday on the day of the event, shared some of the memories of her grandfather in his interaction with his protection detail. She recalled how he would threaten to take over the driving if he felt the car he was travelling in was not making quick enough progress.
“When last did he drive?” she asked, to rounds of laughter from the auditorium.
“Thank you for keeping him safe,” she said, “for keeping him company and for always going above and beyond the call of duty.”
Several members of the protection team shared stories of their time together and of some of the interesting situations that had arisen while they were working with Madiba.
Mrs Machel called on everyone who knew Mr Mandela well to keep in touch with each other and share their personal anecdotes with the Nelson Mandela Foundation to ensure that the human side of his story is preserved for future generations.
Click here to see some of the photographs taken at the event.