In a statement to the press the Chancellor stressed that, like many million people around the world, she mourns the loss of Nelson Mandela. Her thoughts are with his wife and family, she said, "and with all South Africans who honour Nelson Mandela as the father of their nation, free at last".

Angela Merkel visited Nelson Mandela when she visited Africa in 2007. This meeting was, she said "one of the most precious memories" in her entire political career. The Chancellor described Nelson Mandela as "a wonderful man – wise and warm-hearted, with a great sense of humour". Even the long years he spent imprisoned on Robben Island did not break Nelson Mandel, in fact "did not even embitter him". His time in prison only redoubled his resolve to overcome apartheid.

Nelson Mandela, born on 18 July 1918, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 for his resistance to apartheid. His release after 27 years marked a watershed in South African politics. As his country’s first black President, Nelson Mandela led South Africa towards democracy and reconciliation.

In 1993 he and the then President Frederik Willem de Klerk shared the Nobel Peace Prize for their contribution to ending apartheid in South Africa. Nelson Mandela was President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. In 2009 the United Nations declared his birthday Nelson Mandela International Day.

Reconciliation and peaceful change

Nelson Mandela was convinced that it is not hatred and revenge "but reconciliation and peaceful change" that make the world a better place, declared Angela Merkel. He practised what he preached and that made him "one of the truly great men in history" – a statesman with a "message that applies to all countries at all times".

His motto was reconciliation rather than revenge for wrongs suffered. Nelson Mandela thus laid the foundations for South Africa to take this new path after the terrible years of apartheid, said the Chancellor. With his strength and "peaceful perseverance" he made the world "a bit more peaceful and a bit better". The Chancellor stressed that this message is "for all of us". Nelson Mandela’s legacy should be seen as a "obligation for political action".

Germany’s partner

South Africa is a partner country of German development cooperation. Close links have been forged between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of South Africa, on the basis of inter-governmental agreements.

Cooperation between the two states focuses on three priority areas: energy and climate, good governance including inclusive violence and crime prevention for safe public spaces, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Germany has pledged South Africa a total of 286.9 million euros for 2012 and 2013.

After retiring from active politics, Nelson Mandela founded the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which focuses on social issues. The top priority is the fight against HIV/AIDS and ways of mitigating its impacts on society. Since 2001 the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has been supporting the work of the Foundation on behalf of the German government.

Today South Africa plays a leading political and economic role on the African continent. It is also a member of the so-called BRICS group of five major emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).