Last updated:聽11 february, 2010 - 17:42 GMT
Desmond Tutu
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, himself a leading anti-apartheid campaigner and icon also saw in Mandela the mark of a visionary and one who appealed to whites and not just blacks.
Like Mandela he struggled for the liberation of his people and also received the Nobel Peace prize for his activities.
It was at his house in 1990 that Nelson Mandela spent his first night out of prison.
Archbishop Tutu shared his memories of that day with Peter Ndoro.