Nelson Mandela

#Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, fondly known by his tribal name “Madiba”, was the first President of the “new” democratic South Africa (1994-1999). He was born on 18 July 1918 to the Xhosa speaking Thembu royal family. He studied law at the Fort Hare University and the University of the Witwatersrand. He became involved in anti-colonial politics and was a founder member of the ANC Youth League. After the National Party came to power in 1948 and implemented their policy of apartheid, he was prominent in the ANC’s 1952 defiance campaign. He was a member of the ANC leadership that stood in the Treason trial from 1956-1961. Initially committed to non-violent protest, he was co-founder of Umkonto we Sizwe in 1961 (the armed wing of the ANC) that bombed government targets. In 1962 he was arrested and convicted for sabotage and attempts to overthrow the government and sentenced to life imprisonment. Having served 27 years of his life sentence in Robben Island, Pollsmoor and Victor Verster prisons, he was released in 1990. His leadership during the negotiations for a new democratic constitution was remarkable. He became President after the first elections in 1994. He will always be remembered for his iconic role in establishing reconciliation in a country that was always racially and ethnically divided.