Mandela

Mandela was born on 18 July 1918. Given the forename Rolihlala, a Xhosa term colloquially meaning « troublemaker », but he became known by his clan name : Madiba.

His parents were illiterate, but being a devout Christian, his mother sent him to a local Methodist school when he was about seven. Mandela was given the English forename of « Nelson » by his teacher.

Mandela said : « No one in my family had ever attended school. On the first day of school my teacher, Miss Mdingane, gave each of us an English name. This was the custom among Africans in those days and was undoubtedly due to the British bias of our education. That day, Miss Mdingane told me that my new name was Nelson. Why this particular name ? I have no idea. »

Mandela began his secondary education at Clarkebury Boarding Institute in Engcobo. Completing his junior Certificate in two years, in 1937 he moved to Healdtown, the Methodist college in Fort Beaufort attended by most Thembu royalty, including justice. Mandela became interested in native African culture and he began work on a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Fort Hare, an elite black institution.

Upon his arrival in Johannesburg, he worked like an employee in law firm. After that he began a law studies on Witwatersrand University where he fought against apartheid.

Mandela failed his final year at this school three times, he was ultimately denied his degree in December 1949.

In the South African general election, in 1948, in which only withes were permitted to vote, the National Party was elected. It's native of the apartheid.

In 1950, Mandela was elected national president of the ANC (the African National Congress is the Republic of South Africa's governing social democratic political party, since the establishment of multi-racial democracy.) Mandela deciding on a path of nonviolent resistance influenced by Mahatma Gandhi.

But the Sharpeville massacre occurred on 21 March 1960, at the police station of Sharpeville, after a day of demonstration against Pass laws, a crowd of black African protesters went to the police station. The South African police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69 people.

After that, in 1961, inspired by Fidel Castro, Mandela founded “Umkhonto we Sizwe” who was officially separate from the ANC, in later years it became the group's armed wing.

On 5 August 1962, police captured Mandela because he is considered like a terrorist. The Rivonia Trial began on 9 October with Mandela, He gave a three hours speech and he said:

“I have cherished the ideal of democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realized. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die”.

Finally, the justice found Mandela guilty on all four charges, sentencing them to life imprisonment rather than death.

Mandela was transferred to the prison on Robben Island, remaining there for the next 18 years. He spent his days breaking rocks into gravel, until being reassigned in January 1965 to work in a lime quarry.

In April 1982, Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison where he remaining there for the next 8 years.

De Klerk

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