Nelson Mandela passes away at age 95

South African President Jacob Zuma announced to the world that former South African President and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela had died. We’ve known for months that Mandela was ill, but in the last few days his condition worsened.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner has been receiving treatment at home, since he was discharged from hospital in September, where he’d spent three months with a recurring lung infection. But at 4:50 Thursday our time, South African President Jacob Zuma shared the news of Mandela’s death. The 95-year old anti-apartheid icon passed away peacefully in his sleep, while surrounded by his family: “Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father. Although we knew that this day would come, nothing can diminish our sense of a profound and enduring loss. His tireless struggle for freedom earned him the respect of the world.”
President Zuma says there are still lessons to be learned from Nelson Mandela. He urged South Africans to commit to building a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.

Nelson Mandela will be given a state funeral. No date has been set, yet. South African President Zuma has called for all flags in South Africa to be lowered to half mast.