N E L S O N M A N D E L A

By Teagan Pitman

Nelson Mandela was born on the 18th of July 1918, in the village Transkei, South Africa. His birth name was Rolihahla. His father was the chief of the Thembu people. He's dad had 4 wives and 13 children. He was the first person in his family to go to school at the age of 7. At school he was given the english name of 'Nelson'. At the age of 16 in 1934, he went off to boarding school. Then in 1939 he becam e student at Fort Hare.



Nelson Mandela grew up under the apartheid system. This was where there were 2 seperate laws for white people and black people. Only white people were allowed to vote. Africans, Europeans and Indians had to all go to seperate schools, hospitals, homes and more. Africans had to have passbooks on them to be allowed into certain areas or they would be arrested. Africans had the poorest of everything and the laws favoured the white people.



In 1912 the African National Congress (ANC) was formed to unite Africans in a fight against racial discrimination. Then in 1944 Nelson and some other men formed ANC Youth, where they would protest for african rights, democracy and freedom. In 1952, ANC launched a new defiance campaign against apartheid laws. Mandela was the chief volenteer to lead the campaign. Also in 1952 Nelson started his own law firm with his partner Oliver Tambo. This was the first black african law firm. Mandela was elected president of ANC and then in the following year he was forced to retire and face imprisonment and banning for 2 years.



In 1962 Nelson left South Africa to Ethiopia for a meeting with politicians from many African countries, which then supported ANC. Once he returned to South Africa he was arrested for leaving illegally and was sentenced to 2 years in jaol on Robben Island. Not long after he started his sentence him and some other leaders were acused of trying to overthrow the goverment with violence and was sentenced life in prison. Conditions were harsh, they had poor food, damp cells and hard labour.



In 1980 ANC made a campaign to release Nelson from prison with support from all over the world. In 1982, after 18 years in prison he was moved to Pollsmoor prison on the land of africa. Conditions here were better and he could see his family often. Outside the apartheid system was still carrying on as before. During the 1980's the ANC got violent in many towns of South Africa as it became a mass movement. The goverment of South Africa, president FW de Clerk had a meeting with Mandela in 1986 to try stop the violence.



In 1989 the goverment released other men that Mandela was imprisoned with. Mandela's own release came on the 11th of Febuary 1990. He spent 27 years in jaol. The worlds press were waiting for him and pictures were televised world wide. President FW de Clerk lifted the ban of ANC and ANC announced plans for the new South Africa where white people and black people are treated as equals. Nelson Mandela returned to being the ANC's president and worked with the President of South Africa so they could work together for a better Soutyh Africa and that's when they were both awarded the Noble Peace Prize.



In 1944 a general election was held in South Africa. This was the first election that men and woman of all races could vote. Nelson Mandela had led ANC to victory and was elected president of South Africa. He ended the apartheid system and was president for 5 years. In 1991 at the age 81 he retired in politics and returned to Transkei.

Nelson Mandela believed that everyone of all races should be treated as equals and everyone should be able to vote.

He will be remembered as being the man that freed South Africa of the apartheid system, let South Africans have power over South Africa and gained equal rights for all races in South Africa.

Reference:


Book:


Malam. J (2002) "The Release of Nelson Mandela", Cherry Tree books, Berkshire