When criminals slander heroes

Oprah Winfrey knew it was time to either build a new school, plan a children’s Christmas party or whip out her cheque book whenever he called. The late Princess Diana and “Wacko Jacko”, the King of Pop, both came knocking on his door; Bono sat at his side and Queen Elizabeth broke centuries of tradition by permitting Madiba – and only Madiba – to call her by her first name. Although of royal blood himself, his ways were endearingly common.

Averse to bureaucratic garb, for one, our late statesman would show up in untucked shirts, causing stiff-necked conservatives to froth at the mouth.

“Not very presidential,” they sneered. But that was Madiba. Everything he touched turned