The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) stopped trading for 5 minutes at 9am today (11am local time) as South Africa's financial services industry honoured Nelson Mandela's passing
JSE CEO Nicky Newton-King said: “Nelson Mandela’s global statesmanship made him one of the most revered leaders the world has known. His attention to all he met, combined with his ability to listen and to understand those on the other side were just a few of the reasons that so many people in the world today have been influenced by Nelson Mandela, including some who were his former adversaries.”
News of the former South African president's death was officially announced late last night by President Jacob Zuma, who said: "Our beloved Mandela has departed. He passed on peacefully in the company of his family around 20:50 on 5 December 2013. He is now resting. He is now at peace."
JSE chairman Humphrey Bokum said: “There weren’t many occasions that trading activity would simply halt on the JSE’s old open outcry floor, but Nelson Mandela’s visits always had this effect. Incredibly, despite the adulation, his influence and place on the world stage, he remained humble with an easy grace with those around him.”
“I was privileged to meet with Mr Mandela on several occasions, both when the exchange was in downtown Johannesburg and later, when it moved to Sandown. In each case he would take the time to greet and share a moment with every person he encountered.”
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