Sac State Professor Recalls Mandela Legacy

Former South African President and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela died today. 

Sacramento State Professor Boatamo Mosupyoe is a native of South Africa. She says Mandela's legacy is leading the country to freedom and then preventing it from self destructing.

"He represented resistance to oppression.  He represented peace.  He represented justice. He represented unity.  So he embodies all of those qualities not only to South Africans but to the world."

Professor Mosupyoe's  daughter presented Mandela with flowers upon his release from prison in 1990.

He had been a vocal opponent to the ruling party's segregationist practices in 1963 when he was sent to prison on charges of plotting to overthrow the government. 

The professor says Mandela had already passed on much of his leadership role within the country to the next generation and was confident in its abilities to lead the country forward.