He is held in deep respect within South Africa, where he is often referred to by his Xhosa clan name,Madiba, or as Tata ("Father"); he is often described as "the father of the nation."
Uhlonishwa kakhulu eNingizimu Afrika, lapho abizwa khona ngesithakazelo sakhe sesiXhosa sikaMadiba, noma uTata ("Ubaba"), kanti futhi uchazwa njengo"Baba Wesizwe."