South African anti-apartheid revolutionary,

politician and philanthropist

Nelson Mandela18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013

A Xhosa born to the Thembu royal family, Mandela attended the Fort Hare University and the University

of Witwatersrand, where he studied law.

After the South African National Party came to power in 1948, he rose to prominence in the ANC's

1952 Defiance Campaign.

Working as a lawyer, he was repeatedly

arrested for seditious activities and, with the ANC leadership, was unsuccessfully prosecuted in the Treason Trial from

1956 to 1961.

Inspired by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement in the Cuban Revolution, in

1961 Mandela co-founded Umkhonto we Sizwe

("Spear of the Nation", abbreviated MK) with

Sisulu and the communist Joe Slovo

In 1962 he was arrested, convicted of conspiracy (high treason) to overthrow the

government, and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Mandela served 27 years in prison, initially on Robben Island, and later in Pollsmoor

Prison and Victor Verster Prison.

President de Klerk released Mandela

unconditionally and legalised all formerly

banned political parties on 2 February 1990.

Mandela left the prison on Feb 11

"In a way I had never quite comprehended before, I realized the role I could play in court and the possibilities before me as a defendant. I was the symbol of justice in the court of the oppressor, the representative of the great ideals of freedom, fairness and democracy in a society that dishonoured those virtues. I realized then and there that I could carry on the fight even in the fortress of the enemy."— Mandela, 1994

President of South Africa from 1994 to

1999. He was the first black South African to

hold the office, and the first elected in a fully

representative democratic election

Mandela's inauguration took place in Pretoria on 10 May 1994, televised

to a billion viewers globally. The event was

attended by 4000 guests, including

world leaders.

Mandela was President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991

to 1997. Internationally, Mandela was Secretary General of the Non-Aligned

Movement from 1998 to 1999

Mandela received more than 250 honours, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the US

Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Soviet Order of Lenin and the Bharat Ratna. He is held in deep respect within South Africa, where he is often referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, or as Tata ("Father").

“We, the people of South Africa, declare for all our country and the world to know:That South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of the people."— Opening words of the Freedom Charter

“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination”

“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills

to climb.”

“It always seems impossible until its done.”

“We must use time wisely and forever realize

that the time is always ripe

to do right.”

“Courageous people do not fear forgiving,

for the sake of peace.”

“In my country we go to prison first and

then become President.”

“It is wise to persuade people to do things and make them think

it was their own idea.”

“There is no such thing as part freedom.”

“Any man or institution

that tries to rob me of my

dignity will lose.”

We must all remember

Nelson Mandela, what he stood for, and the

example he set.