Nelson Mandela- a hero of peace

 By Xiomara  Pineda                      

Nelson Mandela... a tough and humble man

Was born on July 18, 1918 in the small village of Mvezo, on the Mbashe River district of Umata in Transkei, South Africa. His birth name is Rolihlahla. He got the nickname Nelson from a teacher in school.                                                                          Nelson Mandela´s father was Henrry Mphakanyishwa and his mother was Nosekeni Fanny Mandela. Mandela's father had four wives. Mandela was born to his third wife.

Nelson was a member of Thimbu royalty and his father was chief of the city of Mvezo. In 1943 Mandela began law studies at the University of                               Witwatersrand and he finished his carrer in 1949.

At Witwatersrand, Mandela got his law degree and would meet some of his fellow activists against apartheid. In 1952 Mandela opened the first Black Law firm in South Africa. Transvaal Law society tried to have it closed down, although this was blocked by the South African Supreme Court.

       He was a civil rights leader in South Africa. At first he pushed hard for the congress and the protesters to follow Mohandas Gandhi's non-violence approach. However, he was classified as a terrorist by the South African government.

In 1963 the South African Government sent him to prison. His prison sentence brought international visibility to the anti-apartheid movement as he stayed 27 years in prison. He served a good portion of his life in prison for his protests. He was finally released through International pressure in 1993.

Once released from prison, Nelson continued his campaign to end apartheid. On July 16, 1991 Mandela was appointed president of South Africa. He was the first black president in the history of South Africa. There were several times during the process where violence threatened to break out. Nelson was a strong force in keeping the calm and preventing a major civil war. 

In 1993 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime (political discrimination), and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa.

 

On December 16, 1997 he announces his retirement from CAN and politics. Nelson Mandela was the most significant black leader in South Africa. He decided to fight against discriminations and injustices of his race.


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