Professor Nicholas ‘Fink’ Haysom speaking at a conference sponsored by the UN and the Centre for Conflict Resolution in Cape Town on 17 October 2007.(Photo by Jonathan C. Katzenellenbogen/Getty Images)

A towering legal mind, trusted confidant to Nelson Mandela and tireless architect of peace on the continent, Professor Nicholas ‘Fink’ Haysom combined constitutional brilliance with humility, warmth and an unwavering moral compass – a man as formidable in negotiation rooms as he was generous in spirit, writesZelda la Grange.

The world is poorer today following the loss of Professor Nicholas ‘Fink’ Haysom. 

What a formidable man and legal counsel he was to Nelson Mandela during his presidential years – a constitutional law expert who lived for democracy.

He was one of those people Madiba depended on long after he stopped working for him. Whenever Madiba didn’t have the appetite for a long-winded process, he would leave it to Fink to resolve.

During the Burundi Peace process, Madiba greatly relied on Fink to negotiate as his proxy with complete confidence in his ability and attitude towards the matter.

Very few people in South Africa and Africa can claim to have done more for peace on this continent than what Fink Haysom did.

Regardless of his brilliance and the seriousness of the tasks at hand, he was also great fun to be around. He always had time for other people, and one felt safe having him around in the most tense situations.

We spent many, many days and hours in Bujumbura and Arusha, and way more time than we spent with him during Madiba’s presidency. He was an absolute joy to travel with and a person who never lost his touch for us commoners – always greatly interested in your personal well-being, besides keeping us on the straight and narrow with the law.

One always knew he had Madiba’s best interests at heart and would do the right thing even when it was not the easiest or most popular thing to do.

Author and journalist John Carlin commented: “There are very few people in my life who I have admired, liked and respected more.”

- Zelda la Grange is the former preivate secretary to Nelson Mandela.

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