The "warm and heartfelt" friendship between former South African President Nelson Mandela and Namibian freedom fighter Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, who passed away yesterday, was recalled here by the Mandela Foundation.
Mandela spent around 10 years in the same section on Robben Island with Toivo, who was sent there before the then South West Africa, a protectorate of the white minority South African government, became independent Namibia.
Ya Toivo died yesterday at the age of 92 in Windhoek, Namibia.
"Madiba (the name by which Mandela is fondly known) was impressed by Toivo who refused to co-operate with the authorities and even would not participate in the system of grading prisoners to earn them a higher ranking and more privileges," the Foundation said.
The foundation's CEO Sello Hatang says Madiba often described him as a stubborn freedom fighter, who was determined to win independence for his people in Namibia.
Hatang said it is important to note that their friendship was warm and heartfelt.
"He was quite militant. He wanted very little to do with whites, with the warders," Madiba had said.
Ya Toivo was released from prison in 1984 and rejoined Swapo in exile in Lusaka, Zambia.
He continued the fight in exile and returned to the independent Namibia in 1989 to serve in several cabinet positions under President Sam Nujoma until his retirement from active politics in 2006.
He returned to Namibia in 1989 and served as a member of parliament and cabinet minister. He retired from active politics in 2006.
Besides a naval vessel and a school named in his honour, Toivo also received South Africa's highest national honour, the Order of O R Tambo, for his courageous contribution to the fight for independence and freedom in South Africa and Namibia.
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