- Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in 1918 in Transkei. His father was very poor
so he was sent to live with the chief of the Thembu, where he attend school.
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In 1939,
he matriculated at Fort Hare University College, an educational institution for
Blacks. After three years Nelson was expelled from school because of his participation
in a boycott of hostel food.
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In 1941, He met Walter Sisulu, the ANC's future leader,
who helped him to find a job and to continues his law studies. In this period he
married for the first time and had four children.
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In 1944,
Mandela became a member of the African National Congress. For many years he continued
to fight for rights which were denied to black South Africans. In 1952,
he was the first black leader to be banned from public life.
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In 1956,
he
married his second wife, Winnie Matanzina, a young social worker.
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In 1962, Mandela left the country secretly, without a
passport. He visited Britain and many African countries. When he returned to South
Africa, hoverever, he was arrested in Johannesburg.
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On 6°
November, the United Nations General Assembly for first
time voted for sanctions against South Africa's Government. The next day Mandela
was sentenced
to five years' hard labour. Later, Mandela was transferred to the
infamous Robben Island prison.
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In 1963, during the Rivonia Trial he was found guilty
of many action movement were imprisoned. At Robben Island living conditions were
terrible, Nelson was confined for 16 hours a day, he was allowed 1 no-contact visit
a year.
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On July 1988, at Wembly Stadium in London an international concert
celebrated Mandela's 70° birthday and he became the symbol of the struggle against
apartheid all over the world.
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On Sunday,
11, February 1990 Nelson Mandela was finally freed, after 27
years' imprisonment.
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In 1993,
He won the Nobel Price for Peace with F.W. de Clerk,
the last white President of South Africa.
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In 1994, Mandela was elected president in a "Government of National
Unity".
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In 1999,
Mandela retired from public life. Today he works
for the "Nelson Mandela Children's Found" to support projects in defence of poor
children and youth, and to improve the quality of their lives.
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