Thursday, 5 December 2013

Nelson Mandela

Tonight on television has been announced the passing of Nelson Mandela a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black South African to hold the office, and the first elected in a fully representative, multiracial election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality. For me the most important achievement of Mandela while in office, was the fostering of racial reconciliation.

Nelson Mandela led the struggle to replace the apartheid regime of South Africa with a multi-racial democracy. He was imprisoned at Robin Island for 27 years and went on to become his country's first black president. Educated at the University of Fort Hare and later at the University of Witwatersrand, qualifying in law. 

He became increasingly involved with the African National Congress (ANC), a multi-racial nationalist movement trying to bring about political change in South Africa. In 1948, the National Party came to power and began to implement a policy of 'apartheid', or forced segregation on the basis of race. Mandela was tried for treason in 1956, but acquitted after a five-year trial. On his return he was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison. During his years in prison he became an international symbol of resistance to apartheid. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

A man who stood for peaceful protest.

He was one of my hero's.

RIP. 




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