The Life of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, popularly referred to as Nelson Mandela was born on 18th July 1918 in South Africa's Transkei. He was the son of Tembu Tribe's chief Henry Mandela. He studied in College of Fort Hare and University of Witwatersrand. In 1942, he attained his law degree. In 1944 he joined the African National Congress and joined in a resistance in 1948 against apartheid policies of the then ruling National Party. During 1956-1961, he was held on trial for treason but in 1961 he was acquitted.

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Newsmaker Interview: Nelson Mandela, 1990

In 1960 when ANC was banned, Mandela proposed a military wing in ANC. In 1961 however, this proposal was considered to be a violent tactic and yet allowed the willing members of ANC to join Neslon Mandela's proposal without any fear. As a result, Umkhonto we Sizwe was formed. Mandela was arrested and sentenced to imprisonment with hard labor for a period of 5 years. In 1963 several Umkhonto we Sizwe and ANC fellow members were arrested and Mandela was once again charged for plotting the overthrow of the ruling party/government by using violence. In 1964, Mandela along with 7 others was sent for life imprisonment.

Remembering activist and peacemaker Nelson Mandela

From 1964 to 1982, Mandela was imprisoned in Robben Island Prison and later he was sent to Pollsmoor Prison. It was during his life imprisonment that Mandela's popularity exploded and he was considered to be South Africa's most influential black leader. During imprisonment, Mandela was repeatedly asked to compromise the political position he had and in return he would earn his freedom. Mandela refused to this. On February 11, 1990, Mandela was released from prison. It was then that he devoted himself completely to the goals and vision that he set and saw during the 1960's. Mandela became the President of ANC in 1991 with Oliver Tambo, his colleague and lifelong friend, became the National Chairperson of ANC. On May 1994, Nelson Mandela become the President of South Africa and stayed in office until 1999. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

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Kaoukaw says...

Thank you Roland for all the information it's really

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