 On behalf of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) Board of Trustees and Staff, we mourn the loss of our servant leader, Mr Achmat Dangor. Our founder, Mr Nelson Mandela, handpicked Achmat to lead the Fund, the first legacy organisation established by Madiba in his presidency. Achmat would become the second Chief Executive Officer to lead the Fund from 1999 to 2002, during a turbulent period in our country.
At that stage, the Fund was still in its infancy and its mission was immense, as our country and our children had been gravely impacted by the HIV and AIDS epidemic. This was a critical time where Achmat’s leadership played a vital role to respond to the devastating impact the virus had on the lives of children and their families. Achmat steered the Fund with zeal, compassion and agility. His jovial spirit complemented that of Mr Nelson Mandela. It is therefore, only befitting to describe Achmat’s leadership in Madiba’s own words: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” – Mr Nelson Mandela He fortified Madiba’s legacy through his leadership footprints when he served as the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation (2007 to 2013) and a member of the Board of Trustees at the Mandela Rhodes Foundation (2013 to 2019). Achmat had an immeasurable impact on our lives. We are forever indebted and honoured to have been a part of his incredible life story. We feel your pain and mourn with you, Dangor Family. May your family find peace and comfort knowing he was loved and will be missed dearly. May Achmat’s soul rest in peace. Yours Sincerely, The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund
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