I need a separate book to thank all the people who have contributed to or played a role in my life over the last forty-three years. I may forget many names here and in that case I apologize in advance. In a very strange way, even the people who I felt hurt by played a role in shaping me. Every person that crossed my path blessed me irrespective of the role they played in my life.
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I pay tribute to people who have suffered and sacrificed paving the way for me to have the freedoms that I now enjoy in this beautiful country of ours.
‘I am because you are.’ I thank my parents Des and Yvonne la Grange. I love you more than you will ever comprehend. I don’t show it often and indeed I am strange being, but I hope you know how much I appreciate your unconditional love and support. You laid the foundation for discipline, principle, the morals and values I cling to today. Commitment, loyalty and determination I inherited from you. I know what it is to love because of you. To my brother Anton and his partner Rick Venter, my second brother, thank you for always being there, and if no one else could be trusted, you stood firm. Thank you for the encouragement, unwavering support and taking care of me. You are my rock.
To the rest of my family, the La Grange’s and Strydoms thank you.
To Maretha Slabbert, my long-serving and -suffering colleague, thank you for sticking it out with me. We shared the best times but also the worst. I will love you for ever.
To my long-time friend Jennifer Preller, for your support and motherhood. I remain grateful to have a friend care for me the way you do. Thank you for pushing me beyond what I thought were my limits and for constantly adjusting my attitude and making me strong.
The godparents to my dogs, Johrne and Alet van Huyssteen, I cannot imagine life without you. You lived in my house at one stage more than I did. Thanks for being there at the drop of a hat to care for my house, my dogs and for me and sometimes picking up the pieces. I cannot wait for us to sit on the porch of the old age home together.
To the friend that kept my mind sane and clear Dr Ralf Brummerhof. Thank you for being there to count on, day or night, and even the knee jerk exercises.
To Robyn Curnow and Kim Norgaard and their children Freya and Hella, thank you for an instant family and an enormously privileged and trusted friendship we share.
To Douw and Carolyn Steyn, thank you for loving me and caring the way you do.
For guidance, protection and invaluable wisdom, thank you my pact: Minee Hendricks, Marli Hoffman, Ann-Lee Murray, Lori McCreary, Anele Mdoda, Sara Latham, Dianne Broodryk.
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To some very special friends, some associates and a special breed of people thank you for blessing my life in one way or another with your kindness, support or even just consideration: Constant and Hane Visser, Rian van Heerden, Gareth Cliff, Doug Band, Jon Davidson, Justin Cooper, Matt McKenna, Marius van Vuuren, Ian Douglas, Lucy Matthew, Catriona Garde, Rory Steyn, Elaine Saloner, Roddy Quinn, Kim Mari, Basetsana Khumalo, Johanna Mukoki, Rebs Mogoba, Mashadi Motlana, De Villiers Pienaar, Wayne Hendricks, Henk Opperman, Adriaan and Cecile Basson, George Ludeke, Waldimar Pelser, Pauli Massyn, George Cohen, Jonathan Butt, Matthew and Tracy Barnes, Dan Ntsala, Dot Field, Greg Coetzee, Rob and Amanda Flemming, Libby Moore, Jovita Machel, Patricia Machel, Lisa Halliday, Cora Forsmann, Tracy Davenport, Silvia Viljoen, Attie van Wyk, Artem and Sayora Gregorian, Huma Abedin, Sonja and Coetzee Zietsman, Hannah Richert, Deon Broodryk, Driki van Zyl, Hein and Helmien Bezuidenhout, Deon and Yzelle Stone, Angie Khumalo, Gretchen de Smit, Tinus and Chelyn Nel, Annie Laughton, Adrian Brink, Beverly Loxton, Jean Oelwang, Pieter de Waal and Janice Ferrante, Darren Scott, Donne Nicoll, John Carlin, Thato and Thabiso Sikwane, Niel and Andrea Viljoen, TJ, Louis, Tanya and Liz Steyn, Arpad Busson, Rina Broomberg, Ami Desai, Bryan and Jenine Habana, John and Roxy Smith, Schalk and Michelle Burger, Ryk Neethling, Tim and Clare Massey, Jerry and Prudence Inzerillo, Marilyn Karstaedt, Barbara Hogan, Jabu Mabuza, Graham Wood, Alan Knott-Craig, Mthobi Tyamzashe, Norman Adami, Don and Liz Gips, Rob and Lawri Brozin, Kevin Wilson, Dan Moyana, Karlheinz Koegel, Andrew Mlangeni, Olivia Machel, Frank Guistra, Susan Kriegler, Jogabeth and Esau Shilaluke, Oprah, Gayle King, Richard Friedland, HRH King Willem Alexander and HRH Queen Maxima, Former President Thabo and Mrs Zanele Mbeki, Former President F W de Klerk and Elita de Klerk, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Judge Themba Sangoni, Khanyi Dhlomo, Unathi Msengane, Shiela Sisulu, Faizal and Malaika Motlekar, Jonathan and Jennifer Oppenheimer, Nicky Oppenheimer,Gavin Koppel, Tommy Erasmus, Bongi Mkhabela, Charles Priebatch, the Kunene brothers, Cyril Ramaphosa, David Rockefeller, Leon Vermaak, Benny Gool, Roger Friedman, Mac Maharaj, Archbishop Thabo Mokgoba, Anant and Vaneshree Singh, Bishop Malusi Mpulwana, Robyn Farrell, Dr Mike Plit, Prince Bandar, Jolene Chait, Alfre Woodard, Roderick Spencer, Yusuf Surtee, Sharon Stone, Arki Busson, Charlize Theron, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, Zwelinzima Vavi, Nigel Badminton, Mauro Governato, Ben King, Whitey Basson, Wendy Luhabe, Bernard Krige, Vincent Maphai, Koos Bekker, Fred Phaswana, Ton Vosloo, Chris Liebenberg, Jeff and Bridgette Radebe, Roshann Paris, Joel Johnson, Amy Weinblum, Esmare Weideman, Denese Palm, Ayanda Dlodlo, Minister Nosiviwe Nqakula, Mayor David Dinkins, Forest and Keisha Whitaker, Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Zindzi Mandela, Zoleka Mandela, Chief Zwelivelile Mandela, Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima, Bantu Holomisa, Patekile Holomisa, Zolani Mkiva, Phoebe Gerwel, Jessie Gerwel, Joseph Kruger. Zondwa Mandela, Mbuso Mandela, Andile Mandela, Zinhle Mandela, Luvuyo Mandela and Nandi Mandela.
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To Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Ahmed Kathrada, President Clinton, Secretary Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Bono, Ali, Sol and Andrea Kerzner, Naomi Campbell, Richard Branson, Peter Gabriel, Morgan Freeman, Peggy Dulany and their respective staff thank you for the love and support. My life had been blessed beyond measure having had the privilege to know you.
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To Johann and Gaynor Rupert, thank you for loving and caring.
Frederick and Natasha Mostert, thank you for believing in me, inspiring me and the many many hours of legal consultation, support, guidance but also a privileged friendship.
Jeremy Gauntlett, thank you for your expert advice, support and consultation.
Bally Chuene, Michael Katz and Wim Trengove, Uncle George Bizos and family thank you for your support over the years and always making time and effort with me.
To Sacha and Christa Held, for allowing me to work on the book at their house in Mauritius, thank you.
To all my colleagues from the Presidency and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, some of whom I have lost contact with, thank you for your patience and tolerance. Special thanks to those I have worked closely with or over long periods of time: Lois Dippenaar, Virginia Engel, Alan Pillay, Vimla Naidoo, Elize Wessels, Morris Chabalala, Meshack Mochele, Joel Netshitenzhe, Tony Trew, Fink Haysom, Fanie Pretorius, William Smith, Gerrit Wissing, Marieta van Rensburg, Hayley Lyners, Pam Barron, Shaun Johnson, Heather Henriques, Lydia Baylis, Jackie Maggot, Meme Kgagare, Betty Dima, Xoliswa Ndoyiya, Gloria Nocanda, Yase Godlo, John Samuel, Achmat Dangor, Marianne Mudziwa, Denise Pillay, Shereen Petersen, Buyi Sishuba, Thoko Mavuso, Gloria Jafta, Maeline Engelbrecht, Ruth Rensburg, Lee Davies, Tania Arrison, Elaine McKay, Marie Vos, Dudu Buthelezi, Jo Ditabo, Makano Morojelo, Merlyn van Voore, Mothomang Diaho, Ethel Arendze, Sandy Pillay, Ella Govender, Shirley Naidoo and anyone else I may have forgotten.
Thank you Prof Njabulo Ndebele, Chairman of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Sello Hatang, for your leadership and wisdom.
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Special thanks to Verne Harris from the Centre of Memory at the Nelson Mandela Foundation for helping with factual correctness of this book and for your cameraderie.
All members of the Presidential Protection Unit and the South African Airforce who I worked closely with and that served with diligence, thank you.
The passionate and professional medical staff from the SANDF and private hospitals that cared for Madiba and Mum, thank you.
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The staff of the 1st for Women Insurance Trust and Beeld Children’s fund.
In memorium: My grandparents on both sides of the family, thank you. Special people who have passed on: Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson, Oom Beyers Naude, Sean Chabalala, Mary Mxadana, John Reinders, Parks Mankahlana, Eric Molobi, Aggrey Klaaste, Dullah Omar, Marinus Daling, Miriam Makeba, Steve Tshwete, Uncle Raymond Mhlaba, Kader Asmal, Aunt Adelaide Tambo, Uncle Walter and Aunt Albertina Sisulu, Makgatho Mandela, Zenani Mandela Jnr.
Thank you my Prof., Jakes Gerwel. I still miss you every day. You enriched my life both professionally and personally in ways beyond comprehension and I am the most fortunate and blessed to have worked so closely with you. I will pay tribute to you with deep appreciation for the role you played in Madiba, Mum and my life, for the rest of my days.
My expert agent Jonny Geller, Kirsten Foster, Anna Davis and the team at Curtis Brown, thank you.
Helen Conford, Penelope Vogler, Richard Duguid, Rebecca Lee, Casiana Ionita and the team at Penguin, with deep appreciation for your enthusiasm and support. Also to Stephen Johnson, Frederik de Jager, Ellen van Schalkwyk and all at Penguin South Africa. And to Clare Ferraro, Wendy Wolf and all at Penguin US.
To all my friends in the media, too many to mention, thank you for your patience and understanding and even for our differences in opinion some times. Thank you for showing me how to grow a back bone.
To everyone who took my call when you no longer had to . . . THANK YOU!
To the unfamiliar face of the black man who comforted me at Madiba’s funeral. If I don’t get to thank you in person, this is it.
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To everyone who spared me a smile, a hug or a word of encouragement over 19 years, I salute you with gratitude.
To Mrs Graça Machel, my second Mum and her children, Josina, Malenga and Samora, thank you for accepting me as your family and for caring for me like I am your own. I love you with the same unconditional love that Madiba taught us. I will remain forever indepted to you with love, care and appreciation and I will keep my promise to Madiba, but also willfully so, to care for you for as long as I live.
Lastly, but most importantly, thank you Khulu!