It is with heavy hearts and profound sense of loss that The Banking Association South Africa learned of the death late yesterday evening of former President Nelson Mandela, the giant of the liberation struggle and the founding father of our democracy.

Nelson Mandela was a man of great moral and strategic vision who committed his life to leading the struggle to end apartheid. He was a man of principle and humility whose pursuit of a multi-racial, non-sexist and all inclusive South Africa never wavered through the 27 years of his imprisonment. Nelson Mandela lived to become a free man and to see his vision become a reality. South Africa has lost a father and the rest of the world has lost an icon who worked tirelessly to make this a better world. Madiba instilled the values of non-racism, honesty and selflessness into the democracy he led as the first universally elected President of SA.

It is rarely given to a people that they should produce a single person who epitomises their hopes and expresses their common resolve as Nelson Mandela did. In simple language he could convey the aspirations of all South Africans in their magnificent variety; explain their fears and prejudices and sense the feelings of even the most humble.

Nelson Mandela may have departed but he has left us a legacy which will live on in the millions who continue to defend and advance the freedoms, the values and ideals for which he stood. It is a legacy of courage, conviction and a belief in the equality of all people.

The Banking Association South Africa wishes to announce that all banks will close their head offices, branches and other premises for business on the day former President Mandela would be laid to rest. Banks will communicate with their respective customers on the closures and provide the necessary support to ensure the public has access to basic services.  Banks will follow their own processes and procedures to support staff who may want to attend memorials and be absent from work during the dedicated days of mourning. It will be at the banks’ discretion to remain open on the official days of mourning and state memorial; however they will continue to provide the necessary support at customer interface levels.

On behalf of the Banking sector, (though bereaved ourselves) we extend our heartfelt and deepest condolences to the Mandela family, especially his wife Graca Machel.

We join them in mourning the loss of a father and a hero.

Hamba Kahle Madiba

You have run your race.