Born Name : Rolihlahla Mandela
Born : 18 July 1918
Place : Mvezo, Cape Province, South Africa
Died : 5 December 2013 (aged 95)
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Resting place : Mandela Graveyard, Qunu, Eastern Cape
Political party : African National Congress
Other political:
South African Communist Party
Evelyn Ntoko Mase (m. 1944; div. 1958)
Winnie
Madikizela (m. 1958; div. 1996) Graça Machel (m. 1998)
Children
including Makgatho, Makaziwe, Zenani,
Zindziswa and Josina ( step-daughter)
Alma mater :
University of Fort Hare
University of London
University of South Africa
University of the Witwatersrand
Occupation :
Activist: lawyer: Philanthropist: Politician
Known for: Internal resistance to apartheid
Awards:
Sakharov Prize (1988)
Bharat Ratna (1990)
Nishan-e-Pakistan (1992)
Nobel Peace Prize (1993)
Lenin Peace Prize (1990)
Presidential Medal of Freedom (2002)
About
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, born on July 18, 1918, and passing away on December 5, 2013, was a pivotal figure in South Africa's history. He dedicated his life to fighting against apartheid.
The racially discriminatory system that favored white South Africans and became the nation's first black president through a fully representative democratic election in 1994.
Coming from the Thembu royal family in Mvezo, South Africa, Mandela pursued law at the University of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand.
He delved into anti-colonial and African nationalist politics while practicing law in Johannesburg, eventually joining the African National Congress (ANC) in 1943 and co-founding its Youth League in 1944.
As apartheid entrenched itself under the National Party's white-only government, Mandela and the ANC became dedicated to dismantling it. He rose within the ANC's ranks, gaining prominence through his involvement in key campaigns and trials, such as the Defiance Campaign in 1952 and the Treason Trial in 1956.
Initially advocating non-violent means, Mandela's ideology shifted influenced by Marxism. He clandestinely joined the banned South African Communist Party (SACP) and co-founded the militant uMkhonto we Sizwe in 1961.
Engaging in a sabotage campaign against the government. Consequently, he was arrested, tried, and sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiring against the state after the Rivonia Trial in 1962.
Mandela spent 27 years in prison across various facilities, becoming a symbol of resistance against apartheid. Amid mounting pressure, both domestically and internationally, President FW de Klerk released him in 1990.
Together, Mandela and de Klerk spearheaded negotiations to end apartheid, leading to the landmark 1994 multiracial elections where Mandela's ANC emerged victorious, marking the start of his presidency.
During his presidency, Mandela's government focused on reconciliation, creating the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate past human rights violations.
Despite his socialist beliefs, Mandela retained the liberal economic framework, implementing reforms to address poverty, healthcare and land reform.
Internationally, Mandela played a crucial role as a mediator and served in various capacities, such as secretary-general of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999. Refusing a second term, he passed the presidency to his deputy, Thabo Mbeki, dedicating his later years to humanitarian causes through the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Mandela remains a figure of global admiration for his fight for democracy and social justice. Despite controversy and criticism from different quarters, he received over 250 honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize. Within South Africa, he is affectionately referred to as Madiba, his Thembu clan name, and revered as the "Father of the Nation."
Early life
Childhood: 1918–1934
Nelson Mandela, born in 1918, hailed from South Africa's Thembu royal family in Mvezo. Initially called Rolihlahla ("troublemaker"), he later became known as Madiba, from his clan name. His lineage traced back to Ngubengcuka, a Thembu Kingdom ruler, and his grandfather, Mandela, from whom he got his surname.
Mandela's father, Gadla Henry Mphakhaniswa, served as a chief but was dismissed over alleged corruption, a fact Mandela learned differently later on. Raised in traditional Xhosa customs, Mandela grew up in Qunu, tending cattle and attending a local Methodist school, where he received the English name “Nelson.”
After his father's death, Mandela was raised by Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo at Mqhekezweni palace , influenced by Christian teachings and Methodist schooling. Mandela's education exposed him to African history and anti-imperialist ideas, initially viewing European colonizers as benefactors.
At 16, Mandela underwent the ulwaluko circumcision ritual, symbolizing his transition to manhood, and was named Dalibunga. These formative years shaped Mandela's cultural roots, blending tradition with an evolving worldview shaped by education and societal changes.
Clarkebury, Healdtown, and Fort Hare: 1934–1940
In 1933, Mandela began secondary education at Clarkebury Methodist High School in Engcobo to become a privy councilor for the Thembu royal house. This institution broke his reserved attitude; he developed his first close friendship, engaged in sports, and cultivated a love for gardening. Completing his Junior Certificate in two years, he moved to Healdtown, a Methodist college in Fort Beaufort.
At Healdtown, Mandela encountered European cultural emphasis but gravitated towards native African culture. Engaging in sports like running and boxing, he became a prefect in his second year. In 1939, backed by Jongintaba, he pursued a BA degree at the University of Fort Hare. Immersed in various subjects, he formed strong bonds with peers like Oliver Tambo and engaged in various activities, supporting the British war effort during World War II.
However, his university journey faced disruption when leading an SRC boycott over food quality led to his suspension, and he never completed his degree.
Revolutionary activity and imprisonment
Law studies and the ANC Youth League: 1943–1949
Settling in Orlando, they had two children. Mandela worked on his law degree after completing articles at a law firm, funding his studies with loans. Following Lembede's passing in 1947, Mandela became ANCYL secretary under Peter Mda's leadership, despite differing views on collaboration. He also held roles in the ANC's Transvaal Province branch, challenging leaders cooperating with non-blacks and communists. The 1948 South African election, open only to whites, ushered in the National Party and apartheid laws. Mandela intensified advocacy for direct action against apartheid within the ANC and led to shifts in leadership approaches. Despite his activism, academic struggles resulted in his denial of a degree from the Witwatersrand in 1949.
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