“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
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He married Eavelyn Mase at the Native
Commissioner’s Court because they could
not afford a traditional wedding or feast.
They had four children one died at nine
months, Makaziwe (1947)
He partnered with Tambo and opened
South Africa’s first black law firm in
central Johannesburg in December 1952
Nelson Mandela was born Rolihlahla
Mandela to Nonqaphi Nosekeni and Henry
Mgaddla Mandela on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo.
 Rolihlahla means “pulling the branch of a
tree”.
 His father died when he was only 9 years
old. Soon after he became ward to the
Paramount of Chief, who his father was
principal councilor, to be groomed to assume
high office.
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His primary education at a local mission
school, where he was given the name Nelson
He went to Clarkebury Boarding Institute for
his Junior Certificate and then to Healdtown,
a secondary school.
He enrolled at the University of Fort Hare
for the Bachelor of Arts Degree
He completed his BA at the University of
South Africa in 1942
Went for his LLB shortly after at the
University of Witwatersrand but left in 1948
with out graduating.
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Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was sent to prison because he
advocated majority rule in South Africa, at a time when
apartheid, the separation of black Africans and whites, was
the policy of the ruling white minority there..
Nelson Mandela was sentenced after being found guilty in
the Rivonia Trial. The charges in this case were:
Recruiting persons for training in the preparation and use of
explosives and in guerrilla warfare for the purpose of violent
revolution and committing acts of sabotage
Conspiring to commit the aforementioned acts and to aid
foreign military units when they invaded the Republic,
Acting in these ways to further the objects of communism,
Soliciting and receiving money for these purposes from
sympathizers in Algeria, Ethiopia, Liberia, Nigeria, Tunisia,
and elsewhere.
(He was in jail for 27 years)
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While at the University College of Fort Hare he was elected
onto the Students’ Representative Council
He was suspended from college for joining in a boycott
protest
Mandela entered politics while studying, and joined the
African National Congress in 1943
In 1944 he and others came together to found the African
National Congress Youth League (ANCYL)
During the early fifties Mr. Mandela played an important
part in leading the resistance to the Western Areas removals,
and to the introduction of Bantu Education. He also played a
significant role in popularizing the Freedom Charter, adopted
by the Congress of the People in 1955.
“That was one of the things that worried me — to be
raised to the position of a semi-God — because then you
are no longer a human being. I wanted to be known as
Mandela, a man with weaknesses, some of which are
fundamental, and a man who is committed, but,
nevertheless, sometimes fails to live up to expectations.”
• The only weakness is admitting to possibly having lack
of strength or firmness, other than this quote we have
found no evidence of Mandela having a outstanding
weakness.
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His peers were impressed by
his disciplined work and
consistent effort, so he was
elected as the leagues
National Secretary in 1948
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By 1952 Mandela was
President of the Youth League
and the ANC launched its
Campaign for Unjust Laws
and elected Mandela National
Volunteer-in-Chief
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He fulfilled his responsibility
by organizing resistance to
discriminatory legislation
WHY
was Nelson Mandela a good leader?
Mandela himself argues that "I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man
who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances.“
• He ended apartheid (a rigid policy of segregation of the nonwhite
population) in South Africa.
• He is a man of that can display courage - "I can't pretend that I'm
brave and that I can beat the whole world." But as a leader, you cannot
let people know. "You must put up a front.“
• He inspired confidence inside and outside of his country.
“It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially
when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front
line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your
leadership.”
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In 1993, Nelson Mandela accepted Nobel
Peace Prize on behalf of all South Africans
who suffered and sacrificed so much to
bring peace to our land.
He was president from 1994-1999 in South
Africa.
June 16th, 1994 was the Formation of the
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.
Nelson
Mandela
Works Cited
• http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1821467,00.html
•http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/history/mandela.ht
m
•http://refspace.com/quotes/d:1/Nelson_Mandela/weakness
•http://www.nelsonmandela.org/index.php/videos/full/mandela_day
_message/
•http://www.nobelprizes.com/nobel/peace/1993a.html