Was Mandela Christ-like in his readiness to forgive and to be reconciled with white South Africans? The latter had dwindled from 20 per cent of the population to just 11 per cent by the end of apartheid, mainly due to emigration. Mandela was aware that white flight was not good for the economy. He also wanted his country to be accepted back as a player on the world stage. Racial revenge wasn't really an option. And Mandela was never a racist any more than Mrs Thatcher. Indeed, he had been accused of selling out by younger Black Consciousness activists imprisoned like him on Robben Island, because he had reached a modus vivendi with the warders. The contrast was striking between Mandela and his successor, Thabo Mbeki, who promoted racial policies such as "Black Economic Empowerment".

After his release, Mandela had his hands full reconciling his rivals, especially Chief Buthelezi, leader of the Zulu Inkatha party. Richard Dowden describes Mandela's courage in attending a rally just before the 1994 election in Buthelezi's heartland. He appealed over the chief's head to King Zweletini, while reminding his audience of his own royal blood: "We are all his subjects . . . He is my king, but he is also my child. I was his father's adviser." In dealing with his countrymen Mandela was not so much saintly as regal-and that counted for much more. Above all, he knew when to abdicate.