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AROUND THE WORLD

2014 World Cup; Mandela's Star Power; Nelson Mandela, Dead at 95

Aired December 6, 2013 - 12:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CO-ANCHOR: The people who knew and worked with Nelson Mandela, they're saying today things like they've always said, too, that he was laid back, he was personable, quick with a laugh, a bit of a lady's man at times.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Well, you know, he was somebody who a lot of people appealed to, and, of course, an inspiration from around the world.

We heard from Tony Blair, saying, just a minute ago, that Mandela was fun, even funny, humorous, his words, immensely humble. And, today, everybody from sitting world leaders to people who grew up inspired by Nelson Mandela, they're reflecting on his life and his contributions.

Our Erin McLaughlin has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Tonight, one of the brightest lights of our world has gone out.

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: News of his death traveled swiftly around the world.

In the U.K., Prince William and Kate heard the news while attending the premier of the film "Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom."

PRINCE WILLIAM, DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE: Extremely sad and tragic news. We're just reminded what an extraordinary and inspiring man Nelson Mandela was.

MCLAUGHLIN: Just hours before, signing autographs on the red carpet, British actor Idris Elba, who portrayed the South African icon in the film, shared this story from one of Mandela's daughters.

IDRIS ELBA, ACTOR: In his own words, and Zindzi Mandela told me this today, he said, "I'm not sick. I'm just old."

MCLAUGHLIN: But after hearing of Mandela's passing, the actor said in a statement to CNN, "What an honor it was to step into the shoes of Nelson Mandela. My thoughts and prayers are with his family."

Across the globe, world leaders reflected on the legacy Nelson Mandela leaves behind. At the United Nations, silence in remembrance of his enormous impact.

BAN KI-MOON, UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL: No one did more in our time to advance the values and aspirations of the United Nations. Nelson Mandela showed what is possible for our world and within each one of us if we believe.

MCLAUGHLIN: Today, he is remembered in every corner of the globe.

The Australian prime minister --

TONY ABBOTT, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: Nelson Mandela was one of the great figures of Africa, arguably one of the great figures of the last century, a truly great man.

MCLAUGHLIN: And in Canada, where in 2001, Mandela became the first honor area citizen of Ottawa, the prime minister said the world has lost one of its great moral leaders.

STEPHEN HARPER, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: Despite his long years of captivity, Mr. Mandela left prison with his mind closed to any settling of scores and his heart open to those he had fought against.

MCLAUGHLIN: Mandela in his fight for equality influenced not just world leaders, but also the people of the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's been an inspiration for generations growing up. (Inaudible) the civil rights not just of people in South Africa, but around the world. And, sadly, that struggle still goes on.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCLAUGHLIN: Nelson Mandela's death is front page news here in London. Take a look at some of the headlines.

Here is "The Sun, says "President of the World."

"The London Times" very simply has a photograph of him gazing off into the distance.

And then "The Daily Mail: with the headline, "Death of a Colossus."

Now, many people in London waking up to these headlines, waking up to this news, and they've come here to the South Africa House to pay tribute.

They've been coming steadily all day long. There's a two-hour line to sign a book of condolences.

They're singing and playing songs and dancing in tribute to his life and legacy, so a real celebration here of Nelson Mandela in London.

Suzanne and Michael?

HOLMES: All right, Erin, thanks so much, Erin McLaughlin there.

And, of course, London was the scene of daily protests during the times of apartheid, too, permanent protests there in London.

All right. Well, the world lost an icon, and the world likes to claim Nelson Mandela, but of course, he has a family.

His family lost a husband, a father, a grandfather and so much more.

MALVEAUX: We'll bring you a personal view of the former South African president from a CNN colleague who was a close friend of the Mandela family.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: People around the world remembering the great Nelson Mandela, the prisoner turned president who reconciled a country and changed the world.

Mandela has long been a symbol of hope and freedom for millions of people around the world, all walks of life.

HOLMES: Yeah, universally, helped to break the shackles of racial segregation, do away with white-minority rule in South Africa. But instead of anger against the oppressors, he chose forgiveness, patience and understanding. It worked, too.

Our colleague Nadia Bilchik is a friend to the Mandela family and joins us now to talk about this leader on an iconic -- on a very personal level.

Now, you were back in South Africa just last week.

NADIA BILCHIK, MANDELA FAMILY FRIEND: Yes, I was back in South Africa last week, and I got to spend the morning with Winnie and the granddaughter Zaziranswate (ph). And I said how is Madiba doing, you know, the name we fondly refer to him as? And they said the same. And the same meant he still had tubes that were actually draining the fluid from his lungs. But I don't think they thought death was imminent.

But interesting enough, today, I spoke to Zenani and I just said to her, "The world has lost a beloved icon, but you've lost a father," as you said earlier.

But the thing they wanted to talk most about was the new Mandela movie, "Long Walk to Freedom." So I wanted to show you my favorite clip from the movie.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IDRIS ELBA, ACTOR, "LONG WALK TO FREEDOM": Tell me about the arrests?

NAOMI HARRIS, ACTRESS, "LONG WALK TO FREEDOM": Usually they wait till just before the girls come back from school to take me away, so the girls will find an empty home.

They think about these things, you know. They think about me a lot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BILCHIK: So there's Idris Elba and Naomi Harris as Winnie.

And Winnie said, She got my mannerisms. She got my walk. She got my essence.

But when I spoke to Zenani, Mandela's daughter, she said the wonderful things is it's one of the first movies that highlighted the role my mother played in the struggle.

So, today, we honor Nelson Rolihlahla -

HOLMES: That's easy for you to say.

BILCHIK: -- Mandela, but we don't forget the role that other people played in the struggle, and we're hearing from so many of them today.

So the way I like to describe Mandela is here's a man who turned a nightmare into a vision -

HOLMES: Yeah.

MALVEAUX: Yeah.

BILCHIK: -- a vision into a dream, and a dream into a reality.

That is not a perfect, but a pretty good South Africa.

MALVEAUX: And, Nadia, you had the honor of being close to the family. Thank you very much. We really appreciate your insights, as well.

BILCHIK: Thank you. (Inaudible).

MALVEAUX: And the world watching as the groups now announced for 2014 World Cup in Brazil, next.

Details on the just announced match-ups and, of course, Nelson Mandela's role in the sport that defined a part of his legacy.

HOLMES: Absolutely, World Cup South Africa, I was there.

We're going to talk World Cup when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: All right, sport, of course, having the power to change world, those are really -- it's simple and yet powerful words of Nelson Mandela. This is a year after winning South Africa's first multiracial election. He helped welcome the 1995 Rugby World Cup to South Africa.

HOLMES: And they won it. It couldn't have been a better story.

Mandela's soccer legacy, though, came years later when South Africa was awarded the honor of staging the 2010 World Cup Finals. The ailing former leader, he was there at the end of it all. He didn't attend the early part.

Let's bring in Lara Baldesarra with CNN Sports.

You know, I've got to say, I was honored, I got to go there, cover it with -

MALVEAUX: (INAUDIBLE).

HOLMES: It was awesome. It was such a thrill for a football fan. Talk about Mandela's role in getting the World Cup to South Africa and what it meant.

LARA BALDESARRA, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, for Nelson Mandela, you know, sport was everything. It allowed for all of - a harmony to be brought across everybody. It allowed for hope to be generated through sport where there might not have been hope ever before.

And he was very instrumental in being there in 2004 when FIFA awarded South Africa the ability to host the World Cup. And then you're looking at him here in 2010. And that was a major moment. You know, the crowd gave him a standing ovation and everybody in the stadium could actually -- it was described as kind of spine tingling because it was a magical moment.

HOLMES: Yes.

MALVEAUX: Yes.

HOLMES: Yes.

MALVEAUX: It is incredible when you think about that, just the impact that it had on the country, but also how people saw race relations around the world there. New announcement on this year.

BALDESARRA: Yes.

HOLMES: Big day.

MALVEAUX: Give us a sense.

HOLMES: I don't like my group, by the way.

MALVEAUX: Come on.

BALDESARRA: Oh, no.

HOLMES: We're in with Spain.

MALVEAUX: Let us know. What you got?

BALDESARRA: You are. And I am - I am the bearer of bad news. I apologize in advance.

HOLMES: The U.S. too.

BALDESARRA: You know, the USA, they could actually be in the group of death.

HOLMES: Group of death.

MALVEAUX: Oh.

BALDESARRA: The USA are grouped with Germany, Ghana and Portugal.

HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE). Oh, boy.

BALDESARRA: And to top it all off, the group that they're actually in, that group d, that's - it's just a - it's a bad group.

HOLMES: Yes.

MALVEAUX: All right.

BALDESARRA: It's a bad group climate wise because they're playing up in the tropics. Ninety-nine percent humidity it can get up to.

HOLMES: Ah.

MALVEAUX: We've got to leave it there.

HOLMES: Yes.

MALVEAUX: All right. We'll be watching.

HOLMES: Well, now you know, football fans, or soccer fans as you like to say here, the USA group of death. The Aussie group's not that much better. Thanks a lot.

MALVEAUX: All right, thank you. Good to see you.

HOLMES: Good to see you.

MALVEAUX: Many people who spent time with Nelson Mandela sharing their personal stories today.

HOLMES: Including?

MALVEAUX: Including my own. That's right. Nelson Mandela, of course, meeting people several times, but one of them right here on this day when he showed President Bill Clinton around the prison cell on Robben Island.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Nelson Mandela made an impact on so many, including myself. He was released from prison in February of 1990. And 23 days after he walked out of Robben Island, before his big world tour, I had the rare opportunity of meeting him up close and personal on March 4th. I was living in Egypt at the time traveling to visit my visit who was in Zimbabwe.

We were on a small plane with my family when we made a stop in Ethiopia where the pilot announced a special guest had come on board. He said it was Nelson Mandela. Well, at the moment, I saw Winnie peek around the curtain that separated us from the first class section. Then the pilot announced for us to stay in our seats. Mandela would say hello to all of us at the end of the flight. And he did just that. He shook our hands.

He was greeted - was greeted in Harare, Zimbabwe, to celebrate their 10-year anniversary of independence. There was a red carpet that rolled out from the plane to the terminal, flowers, chants, singers. It was incredible. The excitement many felt just seeing the man shortly after his release.

Eight years later, I had the opportunity -- rare opportunity of meeting him again as a young reporter back in 1998 covering Bill Clinton's trip to Africa. As one of the pool reporters, I actually got along to cover the tour Mandela gave the Clintons at Robben Island. You see it there, where Mandela showed them his prison cell number five where he was held for 18 years. He was thoughtful, he was engaging, no sense of bitterness and Clinton told Mandela on that trip he was glad that his heart did not turn to stone.

Well, I've returned to that prison cell just last year on a tour and, as expected, there's fresh paint, it's been spruced up, it's a national museum. But what strikes you is that the tour guides are former inmates. They all knew Mandela and they talked to me about what it was like to be there with him in those tiny cells for so many years hoping one day that their country would change.

Well, I sat down with Mandela's former son-in-law, who also told me about what Mandela meant to the country and to the family.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZWELI HLONGWANE, MANDELA'S FORMER SON-IN-LAW: We call him da da, you know. We always respect that he's the foundation of this nation. He gave us, you know, these principles of humanity. (INAUDIBLE) as a foundation for the whole nation. He was able to calm down, you know, the fire when South Africa was about to explode. But he spoke a lot of sense to a lot of, you know, people who were angry about what had happened.

CROWD (singing): Happy birthday to you.

HLONGWANE: He's the father of the whole nation. Not only in South Africa, but all over the world. He's that symbol, reconciliation, you know. He taught the world that how important it is to be human, you know. So he's not only a father of South Africa, but a father of the whole world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And that interview was done just last October when I visited South Africa. It was good to meet the family.

HOLMES: Wonderful memories. Yes.

MALVEAUX: Yes. HOLMES: Yes, amazing. Good stuff.

All right, well, the Mandela family has given its stamp of approval to a new movie chronicling his life, as we touched on this earlier. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will fight for our freedom! And (ph) not a war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: It's called "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" based on his autobiography. A live report on the movie and Mr. Mandela's overall star power straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. Nelson Mandela was a revolutionary leader, of course. He became a symbol of peace. His life, well, it's been portrayed in almost a dozen movies on the big screen.

MALVEAUX: Most recently, a new film, "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," starring Idris Elba as Mandela, and Naomie Harris as former wife Winnie. Want to take a look as they capture a historic moment from Mandela's trial.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IDRIS ELBA, ACTOR, "MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM": A just (INAUDIBLE) in the hall (ph) of South Africa. We want equal, political rights. One man, one vote. I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination. I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a free democratic society where all persons live together in harmony with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and achieve. But if need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Oh, he nails the voice.

MALVEAUX: Famous words. Oh, absolutely.

HOLMES: Nails it.

MALVEAUX: CNN entertainer reporter Nischelle Turner joining us from New York.

So, Nischelle, this got the stamp of approval from the family. That is not an easy thing to do. How did that happen?

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, to think that Idris Elba told me he was scared to death when he first got this role because he said, how do you take on a man of this measure and how do you take on such an iconic figure and do it justice.

MALVEAUX: Yes.

TURNER: He just didn't understand how to do it. But you see there, he has done it.

You know, the director, Justin Chadwick, guys, told me that he spent a long time with the Mandela family, consulted with them step by step of this movie. In his words, he thinks it's almost the official Mandela film because the family and Mr. Mandela definitely approved of this film going forward. And it took a long time for them to make.

HOLMES: Yes. Nischelle, thanks so much. Out of time.

I got - I've got to say, though, quickly, "Invictus" was my favorite. It was about the rugby World Cup. Oh, my goodness.

TURNER: The movie's great though.

HOLMES: What? What's that?

TURNER: This movie is great, Michael. This movie's great.

HOLMES: All right. I've got to check it out. I will check it out. But did love "Invictus." What a time that was. They got the World Cup there and they won. It was amazing.

Good to see you, Nischelle.

MALVEAUX: All right. We'll be watching when the movie comes out.

Thanks again for watching "AROUND THE WORLD", this special edition.

CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.