~ Nelson Mandela ~

[MysteRy]

Nelson Mandela Biography


Rolihlahla Mandela was born into the Madiba clan in Mvezo, Transkei, on July 18, 1918, to Nonqaphi Nosekeni and Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, principal counsellor to the Acting King of the Thembu people, Jongintaba Dalindyebo.

His father died when he was 12 years old (1930) and the young Rolihlahla became a ward of Jongintaba at the Great Place in Mqhekezweni. Hearing the elder’s stories of his ancestor’s valour during the wars of resistance, he dreamed also of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people.

He attended primary school in Qunu where his teacher Miss Mdingane gave him the name Nelson, in accordance with the custom to give all school children “Christian” names.

He completed his Junior Certificate at Clarkebury Boarding Institute and went on to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school of some repute, where he matriculated.

Nelson Mandela began his studies for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University College of Fort Hare but did not complete the degree there as he was expelled for joining in a student protest.

He completed his BA through the University of South Africa and went back to Fort Hare for his graduation in 1943.

On his return to the Great Place at Mqhekezweni the King was furious and said if he didn’t return to Fort Hare he would arrange wives for him and his cousin Justice. They ran away to Johannesburg instead, arriving there in 1941. There he worked as a mine security officer and after meeting Walter Sisulu, an estate agent, who introduced him to Lazar Sidelsky. He then did his articles through a firm of attorneys, Witkin Eidelman and Sidelsky.

Meanwhile he began studying for an LLB at the University of the Witwatersrand. By his own admission he was a poor student and left the university in 1952 without graduating. He only started studying again through the University of London after his imprisonment in 1962 but also did not complete that degree.

In 1989, while in the last months of his imprisonment, he obtained an LLB through the University of South Africa. He graduated in absentia at a ceremony in Cape Town.

Nelson Mandela, while increasingly politically involved from 1942, only joined the African National Congress in 1944 when he helped to form the ANC Youth League.

In 1944 he married Walter Sisulu’s cousin Evelyn Mase, a nurse. They had two sons, Madiba Thembekile ‘Thembi’ and Makgatho and two daughters both called Makaziwe, the first of whom died in infancy. They effectively separated in 1955 and divorced in 1958.

Nelson Mandela rose through the ranks of the ANCYL and through its work, in 1949 the ANC adopted a more radical mass-based policy, the Programme of Action.

In 1952 he was chosen at the National Volunteer-in-Chief of the Defiance Campaign with Maulvi Cachalia as his deputy. This campaign of civil disobedience against six unjust laws was a joint programme between the ANC and the South African Indian Congress. He and 19 others were charged under the Suppression of Communism Act for their part in the campaign and sentenced to nine months hard labour, suspended for two years.

A two-year diploma in law on top of his BA allowed Nelson Mandela to practice law, and in August 1952 he and Oliver Tambo established South Africa’s first black law firm, Mandela and Tambo.

At the end of 1952 he was banned for the first time. As a restricted person he was only permitted to watch in secret as the Freedom Charter was adopted in Kliptown on 26 June 1955.

Nelson Mandela was arrested in a countrywide police swoop on 5 December 1955, which led to the 1956 Treason Trial. Men and women of all races found themselves in the dock in the marathon trial that only ended when the last 28 accused, including Mr Mandela were acquitted on 29 March 1961.

On 21 March 1960 police killed 69 unarmed people in a protest against the pass laws held at Sharpeville. This led to the country’s first state of emergency and the banning of the ANC and the Pan Africanist Congress on 8 April. Nelson Mandela and his colleagues in the Treason Trial were among thousands detained during the state of emergency.

During the trial on 14 June 1958 Nelson Mandela married a social worker, Winnie Madikizela. They had two daughters, Zenani and Zindziswa. The couple divorced in 1996.

Days before the end of the Treason Trial Nelson Mandela travelled to Pietermaritzburg to speak at the All-in Africa Conference, which resolved that he should write to Prime Minister Verwoerd requesting a non-racial national convention, and to warn that should he not agree there would be a national strike against South Africa becoming a republic. As soon as he and his colleagues were acquitted in the Treason Trial Nelson Mandela went underground and began planning a national strike for 29, 30 and 31 March. In the face of massive mobilisation of state security the strike was called off early. In June 1961 he was asked to lead the armed struggle and helped to establish Umkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation).

On 11 January 1962, using the adopted name David Motsamayi, Nelson Mandela secretly left South Africa. He travelled around Africa and visited England to gain support for the armed struggle. He received military training in Morocco and Ethiopia and returned to South Africa in July 1962. He was arrested in a police roadblock outside Howick on 5 August while returning from KwaZulu-Natal where he briefed ANC President Chief Albert Luthuli about his trip.

He was charged with leaving the country illegally and inciting workers to strike. He was convicted and sentenced to five years' imprisonment which he began serving in the Pretoria Local Prison. On 27 May 1963 he was transferred to Robben Island and returned to Pretoria on 12 June. Within a month police raided a secret hide-out in Rivonia used by ANC and Communist Party activists, and several of his comrades were arrested.

On 9 October 1963 Nelson Mandela joined ten others on trial for sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial. While facing the death penalty his words to the court at the end of his famous ‘Speech from the Dock’ on 20 April 1964 became immortalised:

“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

On 11 June 1964 Nelson Mandela and seven other accused: Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Denis Goldberg, Elias Motsoaledi and Andrew Mlangeni were convicted and the next day were sentenced to life imprisonment. Denis Goldberg was sent to Pretoria Prison because he was white, while the others went to Robben Island.

Nelson Mandela’s mother died in 1968 and his eldest son Thembi in 1969. He was not allowed to attend their funerals.

On 31 March 1982 Nelson Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town with Sisulu, Mhlaba and Mlangeni. Kathrada joined them in October. When he returned to the prison in November 1985 after prostate surgery Nelson Mandela was held alone. Justice Minister Kobie Coetsee visited him in hospital. Later Nelson Mandela initiated talks about an ultimate meeting between the apartheid government and the ANC.

On 12 August 1988 he was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. After more than three months in two hospitals he was transferred on 7 December 1988 to a house at Victor Verster Prison near Paarl where he spent his last 14 months of imprisonment. He was released from its gates on Sunday 11 February 1990, nine days after the unbanning of the ANC and the PAC and nearly four months after the release of his remaining Rivonia comrades. Throughout his imprisonment he had rejected at least three conditional offers of release.

Nelson Mandela immersed himself in official talks to end white minority rule and in 1991 was elected ANC President to replace his ailing friend Oliver Tambo. In 1993 he and President FW de Klerk jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize and on 27 April 1994 he voted for the first time in his life.

On 10 May 1994 he was inaugurated South Africa’s first democratically elected President. On his 80th birthday in 1998 he married Graça Machel, his third wife.

True to his promise Nelson Mandela stepped down in 1999 after one term as President. He continued to work with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund he set up in 1995 and established the Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Mandela Rhodes Foundation.

In April 2007 his grandson Mandla Mandela became head of the Mvezo Traditional Council at a ceremony at the Mvezo Great Place.

Nelson Mandela never wavered in his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. Despite terrible provocation, he never answered racism with racism. His life has been an inspiration to all who are oppressed and deprived; to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation.

He died at his home in Johannesburg on 5 December 2013.

[MysteRy]

Nelson Mandela Timeline

This is a brief timeline of Nelson Mandela giving some of the basic dates of important events. This Nelson Mandela timeline gives a relatively quick biography and helps to keep events in order.


1918
July 18 Rolihlahla Mandela is born in the small village of Mveso on the Eastern Cape of South Africa. His father was Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa and his mother Nosekeni Fanny. Rolihlahla was given the name Nelson when he started school.

1927
Nelson Rolihlahla's father dies. He is placed under the guardianship of Jongintaba Dalindyebo acting chief of the Thembu tribe.

1937
Attends Wesleyan College in Fort Beaufort then studies for BA at Fort Hare University. It was here that Mandela met his life-long friend Oliver Tambo.

1939
Nelson becomes involved in a boycott against the Universities policies and has to leave.

1939
He escapes an arranged marriage and runs to Johannesburg.

1939
While there he completes his BA through correspondence and studies Law at the University of Witwatersrand

1943
Nelson Mandela becomes a member of the African National Congress (ANC).

1944
Along with Oliver Tambo, forms the Youth League of the ANC

1944
Nelson Mandela marries Evelyn Mase. They go on to have 4 children – one of whom dies as an infant.

1948
The apartheid policy of segregation is implemented across South Africa

1952
Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo open the first black legal firm in South Africa.

1952
While providing free or cheap legal aid to blacks, Mandela is actively involved in the ANC's defiance campaign.

1955
Freedom Charter calling for equal rights is adopted at the Congress of the people.

1956
On Dec 5 Mandela and 155 other political activists are charged with treason. The Riviona Trial followed until 1956 when all were acquitted.

1957
Mandela's first marriage ends

1958
Nelson Mandela marries 'Winnie'. They go on to have 2 children

1959
New laws passed separating homelands for black groups and increasing racial segregation.

1959
Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) is formed and the ANC loses many members and financial support to the group.

1960
At the Sharpeville Massacre 69 black South Africans are shot by police at a peaceful protest and over 150 are wounded.

1960
The ANC is banned and Mandela goes underground forming 'The Spear of the Nation' (MK) military group with arms.

1961
Mandela issues a call to arms and becomes leader of the Umkhontoat ANC guerilla movement.

1962
Aug 5, Mandela is arrested and imprisoned in the Johannesburg Fort.
 
1962
Oct 25 – sentenced to 5 years in prison but goes on the run

1964
Nelson is recaptured, tried for treason and sabotage and is sentenced to life imprisonment. He is 46 years old and goes to Robben Island prison where he spends the next 18 years of his imprisonment, before being moved before his eventual release in 1990.

1965
Rhodesian independence, with only white representation in government.

1968
Mandela loses his eldest son in a car crash and his mother also dies. He is not permitted to attend their funerals.

1968
The United Nations expels Rhodesia because of its apartheid policies

1976
Protests in Soweto and Sharpeville (lead by Steve Biko), result in the death of over 600.

1977
Biko is killed while in police custody.

1980
Oliver Tambo (who has been exiled) launches an international campaign to have Mandela released.

1980
Zimbabwe gains independence.

1983
Farmers are allowed to arm themselves and by 1983 Government making claims of multiple murders, rapes and robberies by black dissidents

1986
Sanctions increase against South Africa costing millions.

1988
Amnesty for dissidents announced. 122 surrender

1990
Feb 11 – Nelson Mandela is freed from prison after 27 years.

1990
The ban on the ANC is lifted by President de Klerk, and talks on forming a multi-racial democracy begin.

1991
Nelson Mandela becomes president of the ANC. Olympic Games ban lifted.

1992
Winnie Mandela is convicted of kidnapping and as an accessory to assault. She and Nelson separate.

1993
Nelson Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

1993
Nelson and Winnie divorce

1994
April 26 – first elections where blacks can vote. The ANC wins the election with 252 seats out of 400.

1994
Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as the first black President of South Africa in May. De Klerk is appointed as Deputy President and the racially mixed Government of National Unity is formed.

1995
Mandela wears a Springbok shirt at the South African hosted Rugby World Cup. This is seen as a gesture of healing and trust between black and white.

1998
July 18 Nelson Mandela marries Graca Machel (widow of former Mozambique President) on his 80th birthday.
 
1999
Mandela relinquishes the Presidency of South Africa to Thabo Mbeki.

2000
Mandela is appointed mediator civil war in Burundi.

2001
Nelson Mandela is treated for prostate cancer.

2003
Supports 46664 AIDS fund raising campaign. (named after his prison number)

2004
At 85 Mandela announces retirement from official life. Granted the honor of the freedom of the city of Johannesburg.

2005
Jan 6 Mandela's son Makgatho dies of AIDS.

2009
The United Nations General Assembly declares July 18 'Mandela Day' as a tribute to his contribution to world freedom.

Dec. 5, 2013
Nelson Mandela died at the age of 95 in Johannesburg.

[MysteRy]

Nelson Mandela Childhood

Many people wonder what factors make up such a powerful leader and spokesperson as Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. What is it about the Nelson Mandela childhood memories, education and early career that brought this man to believe so deeply in a cause and gave him the ability to see these beliefs through?

Nelson Mandela (born Rolihlahla) entered the world on July 18, 1918 in the small village of Mvezo to a chief named Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa. Colonial authorities deprived Mandela's father of his chief status and moved his family to Qunu. Mphakanyiswa played a principal role in Dalindyebo's ascension to the Thembu throne. From the time of Nelson Mandela birth he was exposed to a family of pride. He was the first in his family to attend a school and it was while there that the young Rolihlahla was given the name Nelson.

Nelson Mandela's father died (of tuberculosis) when the boy was nine years old. He was then put under the guardianship of the regent Jongintaba. As was usual for Thembu royalty he attended a Wesleyan School and College. The bright young Nelson Mandela completed his Junior Certificate in only 2 years rather than 3 before moving onto the College in Fort Beaufort. While he was at college he took an interest in running and boxing.

While attending Fort Hare University (studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree) Nelson Mandella met two men who were to become close friends and influences in his life. One was Oliver Tambo and the other was Kaiser 'K.D' Matanzima. Matanzima was in line for the Transkei throne.

Mandela did not complete his Bachelor of Arts degree at the time. After a year he became involved with the Student Representative Council and their boycott against university policies. This is perhaps the first outward representation on record of Nelson Mandela's political activism. He was ordered to leave the college.

Not long after this Mandela refused an arranged marriage proposal and 'ran away' to Johannesburg. He found work there as a guard at a mine, but was dismissed when it was found he was a royal runaway. He then worked as a clerk and completed his degree, (with the University of South Africa), through correspondence. From there he moved on to study law at the University of Witwatersrand. While studying there Mandela was to meet three influential people in his life who also became anti-apartheid activists. They were Harry Schwarz, Joe Slovo and Ruth First.

The young Nelson Mandela was an intelligent boy born into royalty. He understood the meaning of equality and had the opportunity to become well educated. He took up those opportunities and used his knowledge, intelligence and beliefs to fight for equality and justice for not only South Africans but people everywhere.

[MysteRy]

Nelson Mandela Family

While Nelson Mandela led a nation against apartheid and served as one of the worlds leading heroes, we have to ask who were the family who stood with him, suffered with him and perhaps understand him better than any?

Nelson Mandela's father died when he was nine years old. From that time on he was raised by Jongintaba, until he escaped from an arranged marriage he wanted no part of.

From the time Mandela began his fight against and apartheid and the fight for equality, it would be apparent that a Nelson Mandela wife would need to be a strong and brave person in herself. Mandela has had three wives in his life, marrying the last on his 80th birthday.

Mandela has always been a strong supporter of children and education. The Nelson Mandela Childrens fund is just another of this man's achievements. Nelson Mandela is the father of 6 children himself. He fathered four children from his first marriage to Evelyn Mase and 2 children with his second wife Winnie Madikizela.

Nelson Mandela kids had to be something a bit special, and some of them never really got to see their father at all as he was in prison for most of their lives. Both of Mandela's daughters from his first marriage were named Makazawie. The eldest died at nine months and the next Makazawie was named in her honor. Madiba Thembikile (Thembi) was killed in a car crash when he was 25 (1969) Nelson Mandela was in prison at the time and was not permitted to attend his child's funeral. Makgatho died of AIDS in 2005. Nelson Mandela has been active in his expressing his views on HIV and AIDS and the 46664 AIDS campaign is named after his prison number.

Nelson and Evelyn were married for 13 years, splitting up in 1957. Evelyn was a Jehovah's Witness and so had to remain politically neutral. She died in 2004.

In 1958 Nelson married Winnie Madikizela. While much of their marriage was spent apart as Nelson was in prison, Winnie Mandela became a strong political figure herself. Mandela and Winnie have 2 girls Zenani (Zeni) –born in 1958, and Zindziswa (Zindzi) – born in 1960. Zeni married Prince Thumbumuzi Dlamini. Zindzi made history when reading out Nelson Mandela's address refusing political pardon (1985).

Due to both political and personal strain, nelson and Winnie Mandela eventually divorced in 1994. In 1988, on his 80th birthday Nelson married his third wife, Graca Machel (she was the widow of the former Mozambican president).

Nelson Mandela currently lives in a house at Qunu. While he does have several houses around the world Nelson Mandela's place is in his birth region of Transkei.

[MysteRy]

Nelson Mandela Peace

In 1993 Nelson Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This is hardly surprising considering the work he has done. A Nobel Peace Prize is not won lightly. Under Nelson Mandela leadership the injustice of apartheid has been addressed and to a large extent ended (at least politically and on paper). Nelson Mandela himself now leads a quiet existence in peace.

There is no peace without equality and this is a message Nobel peace prize Mandela has sought all his life to bring through to the people of South Africa and the people of the world. I doubt there are many people in this world who do not believe that Mandala was a man worthy of this prize.

His own people have shown him the honor by naming him Mandiba. This is an honorary name that represents his tribe, and some say the one he prefers. It is a sign of both affection and highest respect. He is also known as Khulu , meaning great or paramount and as Dalibhunga (having past through the rite of passage).Many names, one person.

Nelson Mandela and peace are synonymous. Equal opportunity, education and political rights are the things that Nelson Mandela has spent his life fighting for. Inequality is seen all over the world, but perhaps nowhere more so in the racial conflict that apartheid brought to South Africa.

In his acceptance of the Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Prize he had this to say - These countless human beings, both inside and outside our country, had the nobility of spirit to stand in the path of tyranny and injustice, without seeking selfish gain. "They recognised that an injury to one is an injury to all and therefore acted together in defence of justice and a common human decency." In his own efforts Mandela recognised those of others and the work that they had done to bring peace to his people and all humanity.

Nelson Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Frederick William de Kirk for "their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa". These are no small words of praise.

After 27 years of imprisonment, in which Nelson Mandela continued to uphold the political rights of black South Africans (reflecting on the rights of people everywhere) he went on to become president of South Africa.

Reading the books of Nelson Mandela and researching the whole meaning behind apartheid and what it meant can give a greater understanding as to why Nelson Mandela and Nobel Peace work.

There have obviously been more than a few people granted the Nobel Peace Prize (President Barack Obama being the most recent and perhaps controversial) Apart from the extreme racists of South Africa, I doubt there is anyone who could question Nelson Mandela's worthiness of this honor.

A stand against racial inequality, above all odds (including 27 years in prison); the ability to ignite the world with the realisation of what was really happening; an on-going fight against racism in any form anywhere are the hallmarks of Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela – Nobel Peace – never has there been a better match.

[MysteRy]

Nelson Mandela Speeches

In his long history Nelson Mandela has made many speeches on many occasions. Some of these Mandela speeches have been compiled into books, and many things Mandela has said in his speeches have become famous quotes. The Nelson Mandela inaugural speech is possibly his most famous. Any Nelson Mandela speech is well worth reading or listening to though.

As with the man himself a Mandela speech is usually well constructed, well thought out and packed with intelligence and meaning. The Mandela inauguration speech of 1994 is packed with purpose and feeling. The end of a long struggle and the beginnings of shining hope are what really come through. The ANC had struggled so long to make democracy in South Africa a reality. Mandela himself went through 27 years of imprisonment. Now here he and his country stood "Free at last"

The Nelson Mandela inauguration speech given at Cape Town on May 19, 1994 begins – "Today we are entering a new era for our country and its people. Today we celebrate not the victory of a party, but a victory for all the people of South Africa." This was not just a victory for South Africa though but a victory for democracy everywhere. It is perhaps the Nelson Mandela inaugural speech given at Pretoria on May 10 that most people will remember most. "The time for the healing of the wounds has come,. The moment to bridge the chasms that divide us has come. The time to build is upon us" are moving words for a nation that had struggled so long. Nelson Rolihlahla could have chosen to lead the ANC into further conflict when he was released from prison, but he didn't. This Mandela inauguration speech is recognised as an almost perfect display of forgiveness.

Forgiveness for a political system that had for so long held the nation down and forgiveness for the imprisonment of him and others are the implications in the Nelson Mandela speech 1994.

Hope and progression are the other main hallmarks the Nelson Mandela inauguration speech. In fact themes of hope and steadfastness come through in many Mandela speeches.

You can listen to the Mandela inaugural speech on somewhere like YouTube, but it is a good idea to read the words too. There are Mandela speeches available for reading from the 1950's through to today, although Mandiba has retired and makes no more official speeches. His speeches give an insight into the long struggle for democracy and into his beliefs about humanity. To understand who Nelson Mandela is and what he has meant to his country and the world it is worth reading his speeches and at least his autobiography.

The Nelson Mandela inauguration was a moment in history not to be missed. This leader of power and vision has much to share with us all. Perhaps starting with the Mandela inauguration is a bit like reading a book backwards, but it doesn't really matter where you start with Mandiba's speeches. They all have something to say and lead you to somewhere else.