Mandela was a gift to the nation, says Pieter Dirk Uys

Cape Town - Former president Nelson Mandela's death was an opportunity to "celebrate this extraordinary gift we had in this country for such a long time," well-known South African satirist and social activist Pieter Dirk Uys said on local radio station Cape Talk.

Uys, a close friend of Mandela's, who on stage boldly criticised the racist apartheid regime during the struggle against it, lauded Mandela's political and social contributions to South Africa: "He gave us so much build on.

"I love him so much, and always will," he added.