Since his rise to power, the life expectancy of South Africa has fallen ten years, in part because of Mandela's party blaming AIDs on factors other than a virus. The centers of South Africa's major cities have also rotted out. Johannesburg's downtown was at one time almost abandoned by business, just like Detroit was, and for the same reasons.

rip

i actually thought he already died awhile ago because of the coming movie

A most despicable post to start the thread.

Disgusting.

Madiba was a giant, one I am proud to say was once my President. There are no people in the world who come close to his greatness.

It is a stupid post that shifts the focus of the success and failures of Mandela to that of his party.

I'm sure that over the coming months and years people will be looking back on his legacy and analyzing both the positives and negatives. He said it himself... "I am not a saint, unless a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying." He recognizes his mistakes and shortcomings, and I believe it's important to acknowledge and discuss them as well. Nobody is without flaws, and I'm sure that some of the things you stated may be correct to some degree or another... but is NOW really the time to start that particular discussion?