As the world remembers former South African President Nelson Mandela following his death on Dec. 5, journalists everywhere are reflecting on the man and his legacy. Some of those who covered him the longest and knew him the best are Nieman Fellows from South Africa.

In an audio slideshow, South African photojournalist Greg Marinovich, NF ’14, looks back on his life and career in Mandela’s shadow and chronicles the brutal impact of apartheid through his photography. Marinovich first knew Mandela as the man next door who was kind to his grandmother.

This past summer, Janet Heard, NF ’10, published an open letter to Mandela on his 95th birthday. She also shared her memories of him in an On Point interview after his passing.

Allister Sparks, NF ’63, former editor of the Rand Daily Mail, and John Ryan, NF ’70, both recalled Mandela as someone with an “innate ability to relate to people.”

Pippa Green, NF ’99, also wrote about her Nieman year encounter with Mandela when he received an honorary degree at Harvard.

Read more remembrances from Nieman Fellows