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South Africa marks anniversary of death of liberation hero Nelson Mandela

South Africans marked the anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s death yesterday.

The liberation struggle leader died on December 5 last year at the age of 95.

Speaking at a ceremony in the capital Pretoria, Mandela’s widow Graca Machel said the former president had been at peace when he died.

“My singular privilege was to be the shoulder he would lean on in the sunset of his life,” said Ms Machel (above, centre).

Friends and family laid wreaths to mark the anniversary.

The ceremony held at the foot of a bronze statue of the Nobel laureate was attended by the Mandela family, his close friend and fellow Robben Island inmate Ahmed Kathrada and his lawyer George Bizos.

It was followed by an interfaith service at Freedom Park in Pretoria.

Commemoration ceremonies were held around the country, including at Mr Mandela’s ancestral home in Qunu, in the country’s Eastern Cape Province.

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