Jan van der Walt

Van der Walt was a medic in the South African Military Health Service. He worked for Mandela from 1995 to 1999

I remember, during one of my first flights with Mr Mandela, we transferred from his plane to a military Oryx helicopter. All the delegates and bodyguards boarded the helicopter, then Mr Mandela. I was last to board and there were no more seats. I could not stay behind and decided to sit on the floor. Mr Mandela had a reserved seat, which was big enough for two people. He gestured to me to join him. As a nineteen-year-old, this gesture meant the world to me.