He chose to rule for one term, and in 1999, he gave his final State of the Nation address and stepped down as President. He agreed to stay in the limelight as a diplomat and public figure, and The Nelson Mandela Foundation was set up in his name and image. He is still a celebrated elder statesman voices his opinion on pertinent topics, like leading the fight against the AIDS epidemic in Africa and his famous 2003 denunciation of the US-led invasion of Iraq.
But, though South Africa and the ANC enjoyed relative prosperity and peace under his reign, things have since deteriorated. The genocide in Sudan, the collapse of neighbouring Zimbabwe, the failure to denounce Robert Mugabe, a crime wave at home that features horrible violence immigrants amidst concerns over employment have all negatively impacted South Africa.
Today, while the rest of the world celebrates his 90th birthday, that's the concern: that Nelson Mandela's star shone so bright and so strong, no ANC leader will be able to recreate his potent brew of hope, cooperation and prosperity.
Image: Nelson Mandela and his grandson Mandla attend a memorial service for his son Makgatho, who died of AIDS in Johannesburg January 11, 2005. Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela announced January 6 that his only surviving son had died of AIDS, becoming one of the first South African leaders to shatter the silence on a hush-hush disease. "For some time, I have been saying 'Let us give publicity to HIV/AIDS' and not hide it," a grief-struck Mandela, wearing a red AIDS ribbon and seated beside his wife Graca Machel, told reporters in Johannesburg.
Photograph : Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images
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