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Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa on July 18, 1918. His father was Chief Henry Mandela of the Tembu Tribe. Mandela himself was educated at University College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand and qualified in law in 1942.  He became involved in politics in 1944. He was against the ruling National Party's apartheid policies after 1948 (Apartheid was a system of racial segregation enforced through legislation by the National Party governments, who were the ruling party from 1948 to 1994, of South Africa, under which the rights of the majority black inhabitants of South Africa were curtailed and white supremacy and Afrikaner minority rule was maintained). During the ruling of National Party, many innocent people were killed or tortured. Many residential areas were segregated and many people were removed with force. Nelson Mandela resisted against the NP but he was charged for treason and Mandela was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to five years' imprisonment with hard labour. In 1963 when many fellow leaders of the ANC and the Umkhonto we Sizwe were arrested, Mandela was brought to stand trial with them for plotting to overthrow the government by violence. His statement from the dock received considerable international publicity. On June 12, 1964, eight of the accused, including Mandela, were sentenced to life imprisonment. From 1964 to 1982, he was incarcerated at Robben Island Prison, off Cape Town; thereafter, he was at Pollsmoor Prison, nearby on the mainland. Nelson Mandela never once bowed down to the NP. He stood tall and faced his adversity with all the strength he could muster. During his years in prison, Nelson Mandela's reputation grew gradually. He was widely accepted as the most significant black leader in South Africa and became an important symbol of resistance as the anti-apartheid movement gathered strength in Africa. He consistently refused to compromise his political position to obtain his freedom. He believed in truth and justice.

Nelson Mandela was released on February 11, 1990. After his release, he plunged himself wholeheartedly into his life's work, determined to attain the goals he and others had set out almost four decades earlier. His tireless efforts paid off finally when he was elected as the President of South Africa in 1994 and he put the end to the apartheid.  His dedication and determination to free his people did not go unnoticed, in 1993, Nelson Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

POEM

Freedom Fighter,

Freedom Fighter,

The name that befits you,

You stood tall in the eyes of adversity,

Your strength never waived in the presence of the enemy,

You seek justices; but wrongly accused,

Traitor was the name given to you,

Yet, you smiled without fear,

You had faith,

Even when all hope seemed lost,

Your courage was your aura,

Your spoke; but none for yourself,

You were the beacon of hope for many,

Yet you never shone with arrogance,

Your tireless efforts were paid off,

When you stood in the eyes of the world,

You bestowed the greatest gift to your people,

FREEDOM! FREEDOM! FREEDOM!

Your faith did not desert you,

You are the greatest man,

 South Africa will ever know,

You are, none other than,

NELSON MANDELA.