Nelson+Mandela

=Background South Africa: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela=



Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Transkei, South Africa. Mandela went to university and was qualified in law. He joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944 and joined with others to resist apartheid. In the 1960�s the ANC was banned, however Mandela continued his efforts against the injustice of the apartheid state in South Africa by creating a military wing of the ANC with other ANC members. Mandela was secretly appointed the commander and chief of this armed branch of government called the Umkhonto we Sizwe. Mandela's intentions of the Umkhonto we Sizwe were clear, Mandela claimed, �At the end of the day� violence was the only weapon that would destroy apartheid� (Quote: Nelson Mandela, 1959). Mandela and other followers (members of the Umkhonto we Sizwe) were imprisoned for five years and was tried for treason and plotting to over throw the government for challenging the apartheid state in South Africa. On June 12, 1964 Mandela along with eight of the accused were sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to Robben Island Prison. Mandela was greatly known for his strength and unwavering political position; he would not compromise anything for freedom. While jailed, Mandela's popularity all over South Africa grew, he was widely accepted as the most influential and significant black leader in South Africa. Once released from prison, Mandela became the president of the ANC and later won the Nobel peace prize for his valiant efforts against the South African apartheid.





Link to the Nelson Mandela Organization Homepage: http://www.nelsonmandela.org/ Public Broadcating: Frontline Report on Mandela including excerpts from his autobiography: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/mandela/