South African anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela died peacefully at home at the age of 95 on Thursday after months fighting a lung infection, leaving his nation and the world in mourning for a man revered as a moral giant.

For the South Africans settled in the UAE, it is a sad moment, but as most ‘Saffies’ would say they were ready to let go of their hero, grateful of all he has given their country.

Click here to see more pictures of Nelson Mandela

South Africa's Ambassador to the UAE Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro said: “Nelson Mandela continues to be an inspiration for all.”

“This day is a sad day for many South Africans,” commented Nelson Moreira, a 94-year-old resident of Dubai.

“He was not only an iconic figure around the world but also a great gentleman who saw the good and the positive side in a new South Africa when he got elected.

“Even after his 27 years in prison he still found a way to forgive all in the name of reconciliation and he moved the country forward in a unified multi-cultural way.

“He fought against oppression, racism and for equality. His place in history is guaranteed for eternity.”

Nelson Mandela was elected the first black president in 1994, after he had served 27 years in prison on charges of treachery.

He dedicated the early part of his life to the anti-apartheid movement, using boycott, strike, civil disobedience and non-cooperation in the hope of obtaining equal rights for everybody, such as full citizenship, redistribution of land, trade union rights, and free and compulsory education for all children. Later on, he turned to armed struggle, realising that there was no other way achieve change.

After his was released from prison in 1990 he continued his struggle insisting on equal rights for everybody, not amounting under the pressure of political groups of white or black South Africans who had their own agenda for the country.

In 1993, Mandela and President de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work toward dismantling apartheid. In 1994, South Africa held its first democratic elections, won by Mandela.

Some South Africans expressed hope that the legacy of nelson Mandela would remain, being skeptic about the current political situation.
“Unfortunately his legacy has been left to a thieving and corrupt government which does not have one bit of his intelligence and nature and which is letting the country slip,” said Nelson.

Mandela developed early-stage tuberculosis during his prison years, and has made frequent hospital visits since he was first admitted in 2011 with a lung infection. In March this year he was successfully treated for pneumonia, but he was re-admitted on June 8, 2013, when he was taken to the intensive care unit.

Although his situation was reported to be stable, his condition was serious and current South African president Jacob Zuma had urged all people of South Africa and the world to pray for their beloved Madiba and his family and to keep them in their thoughts.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.