By the time of his death , Mandela had come to be widely considered both `` the father of the nation '' , and `` the founding father of democracy '' within South Africa , being seen as `` the national liberator , the saviour , its Washington and Lincoln rolled into one '' .
By the time of his death , Mandela had come to be widely considered `` the father of the nation '' within South Africa . He is also seen as `` the national liberator , the savior , its Washington and Lincoln rolled into one '' .