Nelson Mandela laughs with journalists and performers participating in the second 46664 concert near the small Southern Cape province town of George. Nelson Mandela laughs with journalists and performers participating in the second 46664 concert near the small Southern Cape province town of George, March 18, 2005.

01 / 17

South African anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela died aged 95 at his Johannesburg home on Thursday after a prolonged lung infection, plunging his nation and the world into mourning for a man hailed by global leaders as a moral giant.

See more of : Nelson Mandela

02 / 17

Although Mandela had been frail and ailing for nearly a year, Zuma's announcement late on Thursday of the death of the former president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate shook South Africa.

See more of : Nelson Mandela

03 / 17

Earlier, Mandela was admitted on June 8 with a recurrent lung infection. Nelson Mandela's close family members gathered to hear a sombre prayer wishing the anti-apartheid icon a "peaceful, perfect, end" as he lay in hospital in a critical condition with life seemingly slipping away. (Getty Images)

See more of : Nelson Mandela

04 / 17

Cape Town Archbishop Thabo Makgoba visited Pretoria's Mediclinic Heart Hospital on Tuesday to pray with wife Graca Machel "at this hard time of watching and waiting". (Getty Images)

See more of : Nelson Mandela

05 / 17

Mandela spent 27 years behind bars for his struggle under white minority rule and went on to become South Africa's first black president. (Getty Images)

See more of : Nelson Mandela

06 / 17

Mandela -- who is due to celebrate his 95th birthday on July 18 -- had been hospitalised four times since December. (Getty Images)

See more of : Nelson Mandela

07 / 17

Mandela was born in 1918 in a small village in the eastern Cape of South Africa. In South Africa, he is called by his clan name - "Madiba". (Getty Images)

See more of : Nelson Mandela

08 / 17

Born Rolihlahla Dalibhunga, he was given the name, Nelson, by a teacher at his school. (Getty Images)

See more of : Nelson Mandela

09 / 17

At the age of 25, Mandela went to Witswaterand University to study law. he came across people of many races and backgrounds, and was exposed to liberal, radical and Africanist thought. He had to face racism and discrimination, which motivated him to fight for it. (Getty Images)

See more of : Nelson Mandela

10 / 17