南非人哀悼纳尔逊·曼德拉去世 South Africans Mourn Death of Nelson Mandela

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南非民众哀悼反种族隔离领袖、南非第一任黑人总统纳尔逊·曼德拉。曼德拉于星期四逝世,享年95岁。

南非总统祖马宣布,曼德拉在家人的陪伴下“安详地走了”。几小时后,很多人早上醒来时获知这一消息。

身着黑色服装的祖马发表全国电视讲话,宣布曼德拉逝世的消息。他说,南非失去了“她最伟大的儿子”。

祖马宣布,全国降半旗,并将为曼德拉举行国葬。预计,举行国葬之前,南非将有一段哀悼期。

预计数十位世界领导人及知名人士将前往南非,参加曼德拉的葬礼。曼德拉由于他所从事的活动而深受世人尊敬。

人们聚集在曼德拉在约翰内斯堡的住宅外面唱歌跳舞,以南非的传统方式向曼德拉致敬。

曼德拉因为在结束南非白人统治及其对黑人的歧视进行的斗争中发挥的作用而坐牢将近30年。

他出狱之后,成为和平与和解的象征,在1993年获得诺贝尔和平奖,并且在一年之后当选为南非首位黑人总统。

曼德拉在坐牢的将近30年里得了肺结核,近几年来多次因此病而住院,最近还因为肺部感染而住院治疗。

South Africans are mourning the death of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, the country's first black president, who died Thursday at the age of 95.

Many woke to the news Friday, hours after President Jacob Zuma announced Mr. Mandela "passed on peacefully" in the company of his family.

Dressed in black, Mr. Zuma made the statement in a nationally televised address that South Africa "has lost its greatest son and our people have lost a father."

He said flags will be flown at half staff and Mr. Mandela will be given a state funeral, which is expected to follow a period of national mourning.

Scores of world leaders and celebrities are expected to travel to South Africa for the funeral of Mr. Mandela, who was respected around the world for his activism.

Crowds have already gathered outside Mr. Mandela's home in Johannesburg, where people sang, danced, and paid their respects in the South African tradition.

Mr. Mandela spent nearly three decades in prison for his role in fighting to end white minority rule and official discrimination against blacks in South Africa.

After his release, he emerged as a revered symbol of peace and reconciliation and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. The following year, he became South Africa's first black president.

Mr. Mandela, who contracted tuberculosis during his nearly three decades of incarceration, was hospitalized repeatedly during the past several years, most recently for a recurring lung infection.