Nelson Mandela, commonly known as Madiba, is considered the father of South Africa, being the first black South African to serve as president from 1994 to 1999 in a democratically elected and fully representative government. Nelson Mandela’s presidential election was historic because he ascended to the presidency after being in prison for more than 27 years. Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962 after being accused of sabotage.

Mandela spent most of the year in prison from 1962 and was placed in Robben Island prison. Madiba was released from prison on February 11, 1990 after the start of negotiations that eventually led to the establishment of a democratically elected government. President Nelson Mandela was credited with championing reconciliation between black and white South Africans.

In addition to his reconciliation efforts, Mandela also played a major role in introducing several policies aimed at alleviating poverty among black South Africans while also establishing structures to ensure equality for all races, especially after the practice apartheid that spread racial segregation. in all public places.

Apartheid was characterized by racial segregation between whites and blacks, with blacks having their own schools, public transportation system, and even hospitals. The white race also had its own public services, but these were of superior quality as black South Africans were not even eligible to vote or participate in running the government.

Nelson Mandela was born on June 14, 1918 in a small town called Umtata in South Africa. Madiba belongs to the Thembu dynasty that ruled the Transkei region located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. His great-grandfather Ngubengcuka ruled the Inkosi Enkhulu also known as the Thembu people. Mandela’s father, Gadha Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a famous chief of a town called Mvezo. Mandela’s earlier political experience was shaped by his interactions with colonial governments when his father, from his role as his boss, moved him to Qunu to alienate him for opposing the colonial government.

Rolihlahla Mandela was given the English name of Nelson by his teacher, Miss Mdingane. The name Rolihlahla means “pulling a branch from a tree” or loosely translated as troublemaker. Mandela’s father died of tuberculosis when Mandela was only nine years old and he was adopted by his uncle. His uncle has a missionary school called Wesleyan where he was taken and there he completed his junior certificate in a record two years because the length most students took was 3 years.

He later went to Wesleyan College at Fort Beaufort. During his time in college he developed an interest in boxing and athletes and excelled in both sports. He also attended Fort Hare College where he studied for a Bachelor of Arts. After university, Mandela moved to Johannesburg, where he briefly worked as a guard at a mine, and also worked at a law firm as a clerk.

During this time, Mandela developed an interest in law and enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he studied law. During this time he met some friends who became his lifelong friends, including Joe Slovo, who eventually became his Minister of Housing, and Harry Schwarz, who became his Ambassador to Washington. The friends became strong opponents of the apartheid regime. They became strong crusaders against apartheid and were instrumental in the process of ending the apartheid regime.

After the victory of the Afrikaner-dominated National Party in 1948, Mandela became active in politics because the National Party supported the apartheid policy that supported racial segregation between black and white South Africans. Mandela was at the time working in a law firm with his old friend and lawyer named Oliver Tambo.

Nelson Mandela was greatly influenced by India’s Mahatma Gandhi, especially his philosophy of satyagradha or nonviolent resistance. Despite his desire to lead nonviolent resistance like Mahatma Gandhi, Mandela became the head of the ANC’s militant wing called Umkhonto we Sizwe, which means or translates as “the spear of the nation.” Umkhonto we Sizwe’s role was to sabotage key government institutions and strategic public services such as the railway line

The ANC resorted to the use of violence because it had tried to negotiate peacefully with the apartheid government without success, instead the government confronted ANC members with violence, according to their testimony during their closing speech. Mandela was instrumental in the fundraising process abroad and also in organizing paramilitary training for members in foreign countries. In fact, the ANC received the support of many African countries, most of which had recently gained their independence from colonial masters.

The group played a key role in the bombing of government facilities such as post offices, native magistrates’ courts, passing offices, and even railway lines. The violent actions led to the banning of the ANC and some of the members, such as Mandela, were branded as terrorists by the apartheid government.

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