Nelson Mandela

ENELSON MANDELA FACTFILE:

Full Name: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

Born: 18th July 1918, Mvezo, South Africa

Family Life: Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, into a royal family of the Xhosa-speaking Thembu tribe in the South African village of Mvezo, where his father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa (c. 1880-1928), served as chief. His mother, Nosekeni Fanny, was the third of Mphakanyiswa’s four wives, who together bore him nine daughters and four sons. After the death of his father in 1927, 9-year-old Mandela—then known by his birth name, Rolihlahla—was adopted by Jongintaba Dalindyebo, a high-ranking Thembu regent who began grooming his young ward for a role within the tribal leadership. (http://www.history.com/topics/nelson-mandela)

Participation in politics: Nelson Mandela started to get into politics after the Afrikaner Nationalist party won the 1948 election who encouraged apartheid and racism. He led prominently in the ANC's 1952 Defiance Campaign and the 1955 Congress of the People, whose adoption of the Freedom Charter provided the fundamental basis of the anti-apartheid cause. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela#Political_activity)

Imprisonment: Since Nelson Mandela was one of the founding leaders of a political group known as the African National Congress. He was devoted to peaceful demonstrations, but eventually turned to violence. The ANC and MK (Guerrilla forces) planned to sabotage key strategic locations and civilian buildings in their "fight for freedom". Basically Mandela can be defined as a modern-day terrorist. In fact, Margaret Thatcher the British Prime Minister, issued this statement during 1987. "The ANC is a typical terrorist organisation. Anyone who thinks they will rule South Africa is living in cloud-cuckoo land". So, Nelson was convicted of treason (trying to derail the government), and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081104015921AArjU7s) President of South Africa: On May 9, 1994, South Africa’s newly elected Parliament chose Nelson Mandela to be the first president of the post-apartheid era. When Nelson Mandela was released from prison, the then current President de Klerk along with Nelson Mandela set out to negotiate the dismantling of the apartheid system and, though their working relationship became tense at times, they were able to establish a system for free, multi-racial elections. The ANC won a majority of seats in the first multi-racial election on April 27, 1994 and from there, Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa.

Legacy: Nelson Mandela is now recognised as one of the world’s heroes. After he fought the apartheid system and spent 27 years in prison for his beliefs, he completely changed a whole country. He has won many noble prizes for his work.