Nelson Mandela
"As the world's most famous prisoner and now, his country's leader, he exemplifies a moral integrity that shines far beyond South Africa."
Qouted from The Times 1993
Birth
Born in a village near Umtata in the Transkei on the 18 July 1918, South Africa, in what is now Eastern Cape province,
Nelson Rolihhlahla Mandela
Adulthood
 | Mandela was elected onto the students' Representive Council at the university College of Fort Hare, During this time he got suspended
as a result of participating in a student protest in 1940.
In 1942 Mandela joined the ANC, which involved him participating in the founding of the ANC youth league (ANCYL) togther with Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisula IN 1944.
As Mandela became a bigger part of the ANCYL he was elected into the National Executive Committee of the ANC IN 1949. A year later he became the National President of the ANCYL.
During the same year Mandela was arrested and charged under the Suppression of Communism Act and given a suspended sentence for his part in the definance campaign.
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Amoung the 156 political activists arrested and cahrged with high
treason in 1956, Mandela played a legal role in the trial after the original defence lawyers withdrew during the 1960
state of emergency.
MANDELA WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY on the 25th March 1961 after a trial OF FOUR AND A HALF YEARS.
In 1962 Mandela returned to South Africa where he was arrested for leaving the country illegally and for incitment to strike. He was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisionment.
While serving this sentence he was charged in the Rivonia trial with sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the goverment by revolution. Mandela and seven others involved were sentenced to
life imprisionment in Robben Island Prison.
In 1982 Mandela was transfered to Pollsmoor Prision where he served another 6 years of his life sentance until it was discovered that mandela was suffering from tuberculosis and got transfered
to a house on the grounds of the Victor Verster Prison, near Paarl.
Mandela was released from prison on the 11 Febuary 1990 after the unbanning of the ANC, SACP, PAC and other anti-apartheid organisations on 2 Febuary 1990.
Mandela led the ANC in negotiations with the South African Government which culminated in the adoption of the Interim Constitution in November 1993,Served as President of the ANC (5 July 1991-December 1997),
and led the ANC campaign in the 1994 elections.
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