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After Versace was murdered, the first person to call me was Mandela.

Obviously because of my personal connection to Mandela and having had his story as part of my childhood, I knew how awesome he was.

Unsurprisingly, Nelson Mandela had and still has many detractors.

When I first met Mandela, we did not discuss anything of substance; we just felt each other out. He spent a long time expressing his admiration for the Boer generals and how ingenious they were during the Anglo-Boer war.

The relationship between me and President Mandela right at the beginning was not a very well-established relationship. It was based on two meetings.

I have learned so much from Nelson Mandela, and he has been my leader. He is a perpetual inspiration for me and millions of others around the world.

It was an honour for me to have been able to work with Mr. Mandela in the process that led to the adoption of the interim constitution and our first democratic elections in April 1994.

Nelson Mandela just died, so that says so much because it's a tremendously powerful and great man who was very sensitive. Loved all people, forgave his enemies, and showed the world how to stand up and do it the right way.

I think our politicians could learn a lot from Mandela.

It was fortunate in looking back for South Africa and its entire people that Mandela and I found it possible to work together even though big strains developed between us from time to time.