Nelson R. Mandela: A Life Of Determination and
Hardships
Introduction:
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, born 18 July 1918, was a South African revolutionary, politician and
philanthropist who served as the president of South Africa from 1994-1999. He was the first
black chief executive to be elected in a purely democratic way.
Education and the Political Career:
He was born to the Thembu royal family and had studied law at the Fort Hare University and
the University of Witwatersrand. Living in Johannesburg, he became involved in anti-colonial
politics, joining the ANC and becoming a founding member of its Youth League. When the
South African National Party came to power in 1948, his prominence rose as well. Mandela was
highly influenced with Marxism, which led him to secretly joining the South African Communist
Party. He soon was greeted into its central committee.
Presidency:
In 1961, leading a sabotage campaign against the apartheid government, he was arrested,
convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the state, and sentenced to life imprisonment (27 years)
in the Rivonia Trial. Mandela joined negotiations with President F. W. de Klerk to abolish
apartheid and establish multiracial elections in 1994, in which he led the ANC to victory and
became South Africa's first black president. He published his autobiography in 1995.
Death and Last Testament
Aged 95, Mandela passed away after a prolonged respiratory infection, on 5 December 2013.
Mandela’s will and last testament was made public on 03 February 2014. Wherein, Mandela’s
estate of 4.14 million USD was divided into his family members including his wives and
daughters, and The Mandela Family Trust. His 3 rd wife Ms. Graca Machel is entitled to half of
Mandela’s estate. Rumors state that she is likely to waive her claims off of it.
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