The world pays tribute to Mandela (slideshow)
As South Africans come to terms with the loss of former president Nelson Mandela, the rest of the world bids farewell to Madiba.
Pimples: Saving Madiba's rabbit (video)
Gwede, Mac and Blade try their best to stop the rabbit from whispering in Mandela's ear. But the elusive animal has some tricks up its sleeve.
Zapiro's best Madiba cartoons (slideshow)
From his toughest moments to his most triumphant, Madiba has been an inspiration. Here are some of our favourite Zapiro cartoons about him from 1994 to 2013.
Mandela: SA's greatest son laid to rest (slideshow)
The world watched as Nelson Mandela was finally laid to rest in his hometown of Qunu following a dignified and moving funeral ceremony on Sunday.
WE would not feel inclined to weigh the government's performance after a mere 100 days in office if Nelson Mandela, in his opening of parliament speech in May, had not invited us to do so. But, having been invited, how do we take up the offer? By what measure does one judge Mandela's successes or failures?
If it is by the levels of violence, then Mandela's government comes up trumps, though more by luck than design. If it is by the eagerness with which the new elite have jumped on the gravy train, then the new government does not come out too well.
If it is by the emergence of a new, multi-cultural, multi- denominational culture of tolerance and inclusion, then the inauguration celebration hasn't ended.
If it is by the fact that the Government of National Unity (GNU) is holding together, then this is praise for Mandela's statesmanship and dedication to national unity.
If it is -- as Mandela himself suggested -- by the progress made in the Reconstruction and Development Programme, then one must praise some departments for progress and be harsh on others for the decided lack of it.
After 100 days, all one can really ask is whether the policy, legal, financial and administrative structures are being put in place to allow for a major project push, which could be expected in the second year of Mandela's reign. It is striking that this is happening in some departments and not others -- notably, and most disturbingly, the conflict-ridden area of education.
Even where progress is underway, ministers are grappling with the necessary administrative and logistical support to move as quickly as they want to. In particular, the delays in getting operative provincial and local authorities in place is slowing down the national effort.
Somehow, this strange beast called GNU is slouching towards Bethlehem. The problem is that it is slouching. This is because Mandela, to his credit, has placed the highest premium on unity and reconciliation, almost to the exclusion of the need to shake up the civil service and slap the police and defence force into shape.
But the country and its sluggish economy are awaiting the injection of resources, energy, jobs and investment that RDP projects can bring. Mandela will have to move from a gentle and cautious coaxing of his team to a more vigorous stimulation of the state machinery. He will have to be prepared to shake up, and replace, sluggish cabinet ministers; and he will have to confront obstructive elements of the civil service.