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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.

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

I never thought that I could make a living out of my voice, to be completely honest. I thought that I could probably keep playing pubs. And it was exciting for me to get even just a pub gig in my town or country, when I went to university.

So I got interested in singing and I have always used my voice. Not professionally as much, but around the living room, the campfire, that kind of thing.

Not many people like Johannesburg, but I love the place.

I speak at a lot of banquets in small towns, because small towns have so many great people.

The popularity of leaders like Mandela was an invitation to counter-attack by the government. Mandela was banned from speaking, from attending gatherings, from leaving Johannesburg, from belonging to any organization.

I had a vocal coach. It's a sad thing, but I had to hire someone so that I could get my Australian accent back.

I think our politicians could learn a lot from Mandela.

Unsurprisingly, Nelson Mandela had and still has many detractors.