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One of Nelson Mandela’s “greatest friends” from his prison days has died aged 89, the former president’s foundation announced.
Anti-apartheid activist Eddie Daniels spent 15 years in prison for his part in the struggle and became friends with Mr Mandela.
Daniels did not forget his friend once he left prison in 1979 – he even hatched a plot to rescue Mandela by helicopter from his island jail.
According to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, he even went as far as picking a date – 1 January, 1981.
The plan never happened but the two remained friends.
Mandela once said: “I liked Daniels very much. He was one of my greatest friends in prison. We got on very well. I found him honest, very humble and very helpful indeed.”
Mandela even penned the forward for Daniels’ autobiography:
“We recall his loyalty and courage; his sense of humour, and justice as well as total commitment to the struggle of the prisoners for the eradication of injustice and the betterment of their conditions,” Mandela wrote.
Media release: Nelson Mandela Foundation mourns the passing of Eddie Daniels https://t.co/znZHfsJ28B #HambaKahle pic.twitter.com/gUyd7fkinX
— NelsonMandela (@NelsonMandela) November 30, 2017
Condolences to the family and friends of former Robben Island prisoner Eddie Daniels who has passed on. (Daniels is seen in this photo with fellow Robben Islander Laloo Chiba just a few weeks ago.) #EddieDaniels pic.twitter.com/LW7lBuSz97
— Kathrada Foundation (@KathradaFound) November 30, 2017
