"If you look through that gap you will see her", he said.

There are some dates that end up etched in my mind forever and 18 July will now be one of them.

On a bicycle tour through the dusty streets of Soweto in South Africa, an area soaked in political and human rights history, I couldn't think of a better place to spend today. The contrasts are stark between its slums, vibrant community, empty government housing and memories of those who abolished apartheid.

Today just happened to be Nelson Mandela Day - a UN-declared day and global movement to recognise the legacy he left behind and to encourage all people of the world to spend time making a difference. Our group visited a community day care centre with children blissfully unaware of the struggles that their grandparents had known before them, but one that I now understand so much better.

And the woman who was clearly visible through the gap in the marquee, joining a group in prayer?

Well that was Winnie Mandela. So very humbling.