Member-only story

The Story of South Africa's Public Enemy Number One: Nelson Mandela

Neil Gaiman

·18.6k Followers· Follow

Published in A Pretoria Boy: The Story Of South Africa S Public Enemy Number 1

4 min read · 1 week before

1.5k View Claps

91 Respond

Save

Listen

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in Mvezo, South Africa. He was the son of a chief of the Thembu people. Mandela's early life was marked by poverty and discrimination. He attended a Methodist mission school, where he was given the name Nelson by his teacher. Mandela later attended Fort Hare University, where he studied law. He was expelled from the university in 1940 for his political activities.

A Pretoria Boy: The Story of South Africa’s ‘Public Enemy Number 1’

by Peter Hain

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1377 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	385 pages

In 1944, Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC),a political organization that fought against apartheid, the system of racial segregation and discrimination that was in place in South Africa at the time. Mandela quickly rose through the ranks of the ANC, and in 1951 he was elected president of the ANC Youth League. In 1952, Mandela was arrested and charged with treason. He was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison.

Mandela was released from prison in 1961, but he was soon rearrested and charged with sabotage. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Mandela spent the next 27 years in prison, most of them on Robben Island, a maximum-security prison off the coast of Cape Town. During his time in prison, Mandela became a symbol of the anti-apartheid movement. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, and in 1994 he was elected president of South Africa.

Mandela's presidency was marked by his efforts to reconcile the different races of South Africa and to build a more just and equitable society. He established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which investigated human rights abuses that had been committed during the apartheid era. Mandela also worked to improve the lives of the poor and to promote economic development. He retired from politics in 1999, but he continued to work for peace and justice until his death in 2013.

Nelson Mandela was a true icon of freedom and justice. He dedicated his life to the fight against apartheid, and he played a key role in the establishment of a democratic South Africa. Mandela's legacy will continue to inspire people around the world for generations to come.

Image of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela Giving A Speech A Pretoria Boy: The Story Of South Africa S Public Enemy Number 1

Timeline of Nelson Mandela's Life

1918: Born in Mvezo, South Africa
1940: Expelled from Fort Hare University
1944: Joins the African National Congress (ANC)
1951: Elected president of the ANC Youth League
1952: Arrested and charged with treason
1961: Released from prison
1962: Rearrested and charged with sabotage
1964: Sentenced to life in prison
1990: Released from prison
1993: Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
1994: Elected president of South Africa
1999: Retires from politics
2013: Dies in Johannesburg

Legacy of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela's legacy is one of freedom, justice, and reconciliation. He dedicated his life to the fight against apartheid, and he played a key role in the establishment of a democratic South Africa. Mandela's legacy will continue to inspire people around the world for generations to come.

Additional Resources

* [Nelson Mandela Foundation](https://www.nelsonmandela.org/) * [The Story of Nelson Mandela](https://www.biography.com/political-figure/nelson-mandela) * [Nelson Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom](https://www.Our Book Library.com/Nelson-Mandela-Long-Walk-Freedom/dp/0316768521)

A Pretoria Boy: The Story of South Africa’s ‘Public Enemy Number 1’

by Peter Hain

4.3 out of 5