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Nelson Mandela family: ‘We have lost a great man’

Candles are placed infront of the images of the late South African leader Nelson Mandela who died two days ago, during a vigil by Palestinians and members of the African community in Old City of Jerusalem on President on December 7, 2013. Palestinian leaders drew on the legacy of Nelson Mandela, a high-profile supporter of their cause, likening his fight against apartheid to their own struggle to end Israeli occupation. AFP PHOTO / AHMAD GHARABLIAHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images

By JON GAMBRELL

1 minute to read

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — In their first statement since his death, Nelson Mandela’s family says they’ve ‘‘lost a great man, a son of the soil.’’

Lt. Gen. Temba Templeton Matanzima, a spokesman for the Mandela family, read the statement to journalists Saturday in Johannesburg.

The statement said: ‘‘The pillar of the royal Mandela family is no more with us physically, but his spirit is still with us.’’

The statement went on: ‘‘We have lost a great man, a son of the soil whose greatness in our family was in the simplicity of his nature in our midst — a caring family leader who made time for all and on that score we will miss him dearly.’’

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Mandela died Thursday at age 95.

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