Uys said that the former president’s death was an opportunity to "celebrate this extraordinary gift we had in this country for such a long time," on local radio station Cape Talk.
Uys was a close friend of the Mandela’s and was a bold critic of the apartheid regime during the struggle.
SAPA reports he lauded Mandela's political and social contributions to South Africa:
"He gave us so much build on.” He said.
"I love him so much, and always will," he added.
Teamtalk
(Credit:Gallo Images.Pieter Dirk Uys)