Mandela tributes pile up in London The world on Friday grappled with the loss of South Africa's beloved Nelson Mandela, a towering figure of the 20th century who inspired millions across the globe with his struggle for equality. In London, floral tribuets and written messages pile up beside a statue of Mandela in Parliament Square, and outside the South Africa House, which was the scene of anti-apartheid protests throughout the 1980s. Images.