President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the passing of Mr Nicholas “Fink” Haysom, human rights lawyer, former Chief Legal Advisor to President Nelson Mandela and United Nations representative in diverse roles.
President Ramaphosa extends his condolences to Mr Haysom’s family and friends, his former colleagues in The Presidency and government more broadly, as well as his associates on the continent and colleagues in the United Nations. Mr Haysom has passed away at the age of 73.
Mr Haysom served as chief legal and constitutional advisor to President Mandela from 1994 to 1999.
He chaired a committee that negotiated constitutional principles in the Burundi Peace Process under President Mandela.
He was a mediator and advisor in the Sudan Peace Process and served the United Nations in different roles, including as Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan, Somalia, and South Sudan. He also headed the UN Mission in Iraq.
President Ramaphosa said: “Today we mourn a distinguished diplomat and a pioneer of our democratic administration whose commitment to justice and peace made our country, our continent and the world a better place.
“I remember him for applying his legal acumen, mentorship, wisdom and integrity to the development of our Constitution – attributes that underscored his role in peace-making on our continent and in other world regions.
“As we commemorate Human Rights Month, we pay tribute for Fink for his dedication to human rights and the dignity of all people in all the parts of the world where his guidance was deeply respected and sought-after.
“We reflect on the rich breadth of his life of law, scholarship and creativity, which established him as a writer and, in 1987, as South African Playwright of the Year.
“We are obligated to honour his contribution to our nation and the international community by upholding the fundamental rights and maintaining the peace he advocated so passionately and eloquently.”
Africa Fact: Gedi, near the coast of Kenya, is one of the East African ghost towns. Its ruins, dating from the fourteenth or fifteenth centuries, include the city walls, the palace, private houses, the Great Mosque, seven smaller mosques, and three pillar tombs.
Bombay Shivers
Van is hitch-hiking and he gets picked up by a larnie in a merc. After travelling awhile and making small talk, Van asks the larnie what the 3-pointed star on the bonnet is for. The larnie decides to have some fun with Van.
\”Oh, that\’s the sights, you know, for aiming. When I see someone on the side of the road and I want to run him over, I just line him up in the sights.\”
Willow Dragon
Fun South African Fact: South Africa is home to the oldest meteor scar in the world – the Vredefort Dome in a town called Parys. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.