Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela
Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Nelson Mandela
Caption	Mandela in 1994
Office	President of South Africa
Term start	10 May 1994
Term end	14 June 1999
Deputy	Thabo Mbeki, F. W. de Klerk
Predecessor	F. W. de Klerk (as State President)
Successor	Thabo Mbeki
Birth name	Rolihlahla Mandela
Birth date	18 July 1918
Birth place	Mvezo, Union of South Africa
Death date	5 December 2013 (aged 95)
Death place	Johannesburg, South Africa
Party	African National Congress
Otherparty	South African Communist Party
Spouse	Evelyn Mase (m. 1944; div. 1958), Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (m. 1958; div. 1996), Graça Machel (m. 1998)
Children	6, including Makgatho and Zenani
Awards	Nobel Peace Prize (1993), Bharat Ratna (1990), Lenin Peace Prize (1990), Sakharov Prize (1988)

Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist who served as the first president of a democratic South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state, elected in a fully representative democratic election following his long fight against the system of apartheid. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalized racism and fostering racial reconciliation. For his efforts, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 alongside F. W. de Klerk.

Early life and education

Born Rolihlahla Mandela on 18 July 1918 in the village of Mvezo in the Union of South Africa, he was a member of the Thembu royal family. His father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a local chief and councillor to the monarch. After his father's death, he was placed under the guardianship of Regent Jongintaba Dalindyebo at the Great Place in Mqhekezweni. He attended a Methodist mission school before enrolling at the University of Fort Hare, where he studied law and met future political allies like Oliver Tambo. He left Fort Hare after a student protest and later completed his BA through the University of South Africa while living in Johannesburg.

Anti-apartheid activism

In Johannesburg, Mandela joined the African National Congress in 1944, co-founding its Youth League with Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo. He rose to prominence in the Defiance Campaign of 1952 and helped draft the Freedom Charter in 1955. As a lawyer with the firm Mandela and Tambo, he provided legal counsel to many blacks affected by apartheid laws. Initially committed to non-violent protest, his views shifted after the Sharpeville massacre and the banning of the ANC. He co-founded the militant uMkhonto we Sizwe in 1961, becoming its commander and coordinating a campaign of sabotage against government targets.

Imprisonment

In 1962, Mandela was arrested and convicted of inciting workers to strike and leaving the country without a passport. While serving this sentence, he was charged in the Rivonia Trial with sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the state. His speech from the dock, declaring his readiness to die for a democratic ideal, became iconic. In 1964, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to Robben Island, where he spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. He was later transferred to Pollsmoor Prison and finally Victor Verster Prison, during which time secret negotiations with the National Party government began.

Presidency and reconciliation

Following his release in 1990 by State President F. W. de Klerk, Mandela led the ANC in the multi-party negotiations that resulted in the end of apartheid. He and de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. In the 1994 election, the ANC won a landslide victory and Mandela was inaugurated as President, heading a Government of National Unity. His administration established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, chaired by Desmond Tutu, and introduced a new constitution. He also oversaw significant social and economic reforms while promoting national unity through symbols like the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Later life and legacy

Declining a second term, Mandela retired from active politics in 1999 and was succeeded by his deputy, Thabo Mbeki. He then focused on philanthropic work through the Nelson Mandela Foundation, addressing issues like HIV/AIDS and rural development via the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. He remained a global advocate for peace and social justice until his death in Johannesburg on 5 December 2013. His state funeral was attended by world leaders from over 90 countries. Mandela's legacy is celebrated annually on Nelson Mandela International Day, and he is widely regarded as the "Father of the Nation" in South Africa, remembered for his unwavering commitment to equality, justice, and forgiveness.

Category:Presidents of South Africa Category:Anti-apartheid activists Category:Recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize