NELSON MANDELA IS DEAD

NELSON Mandela, who led South Africa out of apartheid and became the nation's first black president, has died at the age of 95.
He passed away in the company of his family at around 8:50pm on December 5, South African President Jacob Zuma announced in a statement to the nation's people.
"He is now rested, he is now at peace," Mr Zuma said, as huge crowds grew outside the former leader's home. "Our nation has lost its greatest son, our people have lost a father.
"But though we knew that this day would come, nothing can diminish our sense of the profound and enduring loss.
"Although we knew that this day would come, nothing can diminish the profound and enduring loss."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mandela family."
The man credited with dismantling South Africa's system of apartheid which institutionalised racism, Mandela was an international symbol of reconciliation and human rights.