Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born July 18, 1918 in Transkei, South Africa. Mandela studied law at the University College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand. He then joined the ANC, the African National Congress, in 1944 and engaged in the resistance against the National Party’s apartheid, or segregation, policies. Mandela went on trial for treason in 1956 but was acquitted in 1961.
When the ANC was banned in 1960, Mandela argued for a military wing to be set up within the ANC. In June 1961 the executive of the ANC considered Mandela’s proposal on the use of violent tactics and said that anyone who wanted to be involved with Mandela’s campaign would not be stopped by the ANC. This led to the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe, “Spear of the Nation,” which was the armed wing of the ANC.
Mandela was arrested in 1962 for treason and sentenced to five years of imprisonment and hard labor. In 1963, many fellow leaders of the ANC and Umkhonto we Sizwe were arrested, and Mandela was brought to stand trial with them. All were accused of plotting to overthrow the government by violence. These trials received international publicity.
On June 12, 1964, Mandela and eight of the accused were sentenced to life in prison. Mandela was incarcerated at Robben Island Prison from 1964 to 1982. From 1982 onward Mandela was being held at Pollsmoor Prison.
While Mandela was in prison his reputation grew steadily. He was widely accepted as the most significant leader in South Africa and became a symbol of resistance as the anti-apartheid movement was growing stronger. Mandela, however, refused compromising his political position so that he could be released from prison.
When Mandela was finally released on February 11, 1990 he delved wholeheartedly into his life’s work and strived to attain goals he and many others had had for nearly four decades. A national conference of the ANC was held inside South Africa for the first time since it had been banned in 1960. Mandela was elected president of the ANC while one of his good friends, Oliver Tambo, became the organization’s National Chairperson.
Mandela died of a lung infection on December 5, 2013 at the age of 95 years.
At the time of death he was at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa and was in the presence of family.
When the ANC was banned in 1960, Mandela argued for a military wing to be set up within the ANC. In June 1961 the executive of the ANC considered Mandela’s proposal on the use of violent tactics and said that anyone who wanted to be involved with Mandela’s campaign would not be stopped by the ANC. This led to the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe, “Spear of the Nation,” which was the armed wing of the ANC.
Mandela was arrested in 1962 for treason and sentenced to five years of imprisonment and hard labor. In 1963, many fellow leaders of the ANC and Umkhonto we Sizwe were arrested, and Mandela was brought to stand trial with them. All were accused of plotting to overthrow the government by violence. These trials received international publicity.
On June 12, 1964, Mandela and eight of the accused were sentenced to life in prison. Mandela was incarcerated at Robben Island Prison from 1964 to 1982. From 1982 onward Mandela was being held at Pollsmoor Prison.
While Mandela was in prison his reputation grew steadily. He was widely accepted as the most significant leader in South Africa and became a symbol of resistance as the anti-apartheid movement was growing stronger. Mandela, however, refused compromising his political position so that he could be released from prison.
When Mandela was finally released on February 11, 1990 he delved wholeheartedly into his life’s work and strived to attain goals he and many others had had for nearly four decades. A national conference of the ANC was held inside South Africa for the first time since it had been banned in 1960. Mandela was elected president of the ANC while one of his good friends, Oliver Tambo, became the organization’s National Chairperson.
Mandela died of a lung infection on December 5, 2013 at the age of 95 years.
At the time of death he was at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa and was in the presence of family.