Lazar Sidelsky

By the 1940s, Sidelsky was a partner in one of Johannesburg's largest and most successful legal firms, Witkin, Sidelsky and Eidelman.^[3] Sidelsky spearheaded a credit programme allowing black South Africans to secure mortgages. As part of this stream of work, Sidelsky worked with a black real estate agent, Walter Sisulu. Sisulu recognised potential in Mandela and introduced him to Sidelsky in 1942. Sidelsky hired a 24-year-old Mandela as an articled clerk, allowing Mandela to qualify as an attorney.^[3] Mandela worked at the firm whilst pursuing a BA by correspondence and also while he undertook legal studies at the University of the Witwatersrand.^[3] At the practice, Mandela also worked alongside Sidelsky's cousin, Nat Bregman. Bregman was a member of the South African Communist Party and Mandela came to describe him as his "first white friend".^[3]

In 1953, Sidelsky lent Mandela the seed money to establish South Africa's first black-led law practice. In 1957, as a sign of respect to Sidelsky, the wedding procession of Mandela and his bride Winnie Madikizela, passed Sidelsky's home.^[3] Sidelsky also visited Mandela when the latter was imprisoned on Robben Island, with Mandela telling the guards: "You see this man — this is the only man I’m prepared to call my boss."^[4]

In his memoir, Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela said that Sidelsky had treated him with “enormous kindness” and reflected on the opportunity: “It was a Jewish firm, and in my experience I have found Jews to be more broad-minded than most whites on issues of race and politics, perhaps because they themselves have historically been victims of prejudice.”^[5][3]

In the 1990s, Mandela hosted a kosher lunch at his Houghton Estate home, in honour of his guests, Sidelsky and Bregman.^[3] In 2001, shortly before his death, Sidelsky attended an event organised by the South African press honouring Mr Mandela.^[4]

Sidelsky was married to Goldie Blume, with whom he had three children, Colin, Dov and Ruth. Colin lives in Johannesburg, with Ruth having emigrated to live in London, and Dov having made aliyah to Israel, where he is a rabbi.^[6]

Sidelsky died in May 2002, with Mandela paying a shiva visit to his relatives.^[7]