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For those who may not know, it was the CBC that put in place the legislation that put sanctions against South Africa to end apartheid, and that took Mandela off the terrorist list.

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

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.

I think our politicians could learn a lot from Mandela.

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.

It was deeply important for me to understand where Mandela came from. Because we know where he was going, and that's a famous story, but who was he? Where did he come from? What was his upbringing?

Unsurprisingly, Nelson Mandela had and still has many detractors.

Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X came out of prison stronger.

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

Mandela once phoned me out of the blue while he was still president, and at first he played with me a bit.