Printable version from NI Global Issues for Learners of English:

NI Global Issues for Learners of English > Issues > Africa > Mandela

Nelson
Mandela

born 1918

  

 

Nelson Mandela was born in South Africa in 1918. He was the son of a Tembou Chief. He went to university in South Africa and became a lawyer in 1942.

Mandela was an active member of the African National Congress (ANC), and became one of its leaders. The ANC was an organization that was opposed to racial segregation and the apartheid laws.

Apartheid was the political system introduced by the white government in 1948 (but there were laws favouring white people before this).Under apartheid, there were four racial groups in South Africa, and all South Africans belonged to one of them:

  • African
  • Coloured
  • Indian
  • White

Apartheid had seven main points:

  1. People had to live in separate areas, according to their race
  2. Each race had separate schools (children could only go to the school for their own race)
  3. All blacks were given a tribal homeland which was their official home, even if they had never been there
  4. Blacks were not allowed to vote, except to elect local black authorities, which had no power
  5. Transport, shops, places of entertainment, and so on were all segregated
  6. It was forbidden for people of different races to marry each other
  7. It was forbidden for people of different races to have sex

    The last 2 laws were repealed in 1985.

Mandela was arrested, and put on trial for treason: the trial was very long, from 1956 to 1961. In 1960, the ANC (and 2 other groups) were banned by the government. Mandela gave up his policy of non-violence, and helped to form the "Spear of the Nation" a military branch of the ANC. In 1962, Mandela was arrested again, and in 1964 he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

During the many years that Mandela was in prison, he was strongly supported by black South Africans, and other people in South Africa and throughout the world who were against apartheid. Opposition to apartheid grew stronger and stronger, and Candela was finally released from prison in 1990.

Mandela became the leader of the ANC in 1991. He continued to work for an end to apartheid, and in 1993 he won the Nobel Peace Prize, with F. W. de Clerk, South Africa's white President. In 1994, South Africa held multi-racial elections and Mandela became President. Mandela resigned as leader of the ANC and as President in 1997.

NI Global Issues for Learners of English > Issues > Africa > Mandela

Last Modified: 31st December 2000