Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela was a busy man. In his fight against apartheid he spent 27 years in prison. Later he became the first black president of South Africa. In 1993 he received the Nobel Peace Prize. He died in December 2013, almost 100 years old.

But how and why did he change the world the way he did?

Childhood

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on 18th of July 1918 in a little village named Mvezo. He was one of his fathers, Henry Mgadla Mandela, 13 children. His father died when Mandela was only 9 years old.

Fortunately he had been one of the major councilors to the the local regent and the regent took Nelson Mandela under his wings and raised him. Under his guardianship Mandela was taught about tribal rules and he became very fascinated. He decided that he wanted to become a lawyer.

Education

Mandela was the first of his family to attend to school. When he started at the age of seven, Mandela was given the European name Nelson, by his teacher.

He was clever and did well at school. He completed his Junior certification in two years. One year less than it would usually take.

After primary school he continued his education. First at the Clarkebury Methodist school, then the Healdtown High School, which was also a Methodist school. Here he heard about the ANC for the first time.

Family

When Mandela was 23, he moved to Soweto, to escape from an arranged marriage. Mandela had three wives through his life. The first was Evelyn Mase, with who he got two daughters. The eldest died when she was only 9 months old.

The next daughter, Makazawie, was named after her deceased sister.

Later they got two boys; Madiba Thembikile and Makgatho. In 1957, Nelson and Evelyn got divorced, because she was a Jehovah’s Witness and had to remain political neutral.

Only two years later he married Winnie Madikizela. Mandela and Winnie had two daughters together but they didn’t really got to see their father because he was in prison until they were grown up.

In 1994, Mandela and Winnie split up, due to political and personal strain.

At his 80th birthday he married his last wife, Graca Machel.

1 Written by: Marie S. and Anna F.

When he finished school his guardian sent him to University College of Ford Hare, but he was suspended for organizing a demonstration. Later he completed his degree by correspondence.

He began a part-time law degree at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1943.

Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela was a busy man. In his fight against apartheid he spent 27 years in prison. Later he became the first black president of South Africa. In 1993 he received the Nobel Peace Prize. He died in December 2013, almost 100 years old.

But how and why did he change the world the way he did?

ANC

In 1942 nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress. But Mandela and other young members of the ANC were not satisfied about the leaders.

They felt that ANC could do more for the black population.

That was why they founded the ANC youth league. Nelson Mandela worked hard for the ANC youth league and in 1952 he was put in charge of a countrywide campaign, that should inform the black population about their rights and inspire them to demonstrate against the government. At the same time Mandela opened the first black law firm in Johannesburg.

Mandela’s carrier seemed to have a great future but in 1960 the government banned ANC. Mandela and other ANC members didn’t give up. They went underground and traveled secretly around. They spread the message that the white government had gone too far.

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Imprisonment

Mandela was in prison for 27 years.

He spent 18 of them on Robben Island. It was a prison twelve kilometers from the coast.

In 1962 the police caught Nelson Mandela. At first he got five years in prison, but later the government accused him for trying to overthrow South Africa, and the five years became lifetime.

He had a little cell without a bed or plumbing. He could only write and receive a letter every six month and he was only allowed to have visit in 30 minutes once a year.

Finally Frederik de Klerk became president of South Africa in 1989.

Frederik De Klerk got rid of apartheid, lifted the ban on ANC 2

Written by: Marie S. and Anna F.

Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela was a busy man. In his fight against apartheid he spent 27 years in prison. Later he became the first black president of South Africa. In 1993 he received the Nobel Peace Prize. He died in December 2013, almost 100 years old.

But how and why did he change the world the way he did? and ordered the release of Nelson Mandela the 11th February.

Presidency Mandela got back to work and in 1991 he became president of ANC. Nelson Mandela and Federik De Klerk received the Nobel peace prize together in 1993.

"For their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa."

In 1994 for the first time in South Africa's history, people from all races voted in democratic elections. The ANC won and Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black president.

Later Life

At the age of 81 Nelson Mandela retired and Thabo Mbeki took his place as South Africa’s president.

Mandela's life ended peacefully on the 5th December 2013 in Johannesburg. He is buried in his home village Qunu, side to side with three of his children.

3 Written by: Marie S. and Anna F.