Nelson Mandela biography
Nelson Mandela was the South African President from 1994-1999. He is known mostly for trying to stop unfairness for South Africa and shortly after that, going to prison. Let me tell you his story.
Early Life
Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18th 1918 in Mvezo, South Africa. At the age of 7, Rolihlahla went to a British school where he picked up the British nickname from his teacher “Nelson”. ( Because his name was to hard to say). He was also the first person in his family to go to school. At the age of 9, his father suffered from tubercolosis and died. And the Regent, Jogintaba became his guardian. At the age of 16, he attended Clarkebury boarding institute. Nelson received his junior certificate after 2 years unlike the usual 3. When he was 19,(1937) he moved to Healdtown, the Wesleyan college in Fort Beaufort which most Thembu royalty attended. Soon, he took an interest in boxing and running in school. Later, he joined Fort Hare University, where he met Oliver Tambo. Tambo and Mandela became lifelong friends and colleagues. Mandela also became close friends with kinsman, Kaiser. After leaving Fort Hare, his regent told him and his son that he had arranged marriges for both of them. The young men were shocked and unhappy about the marriages. So, they elected to Johannesburg. Soon after his arrival, he found the job of a guard of a mine. Mandela later started the new job of a clerk at a store. While working at the store, Mandela received his B.A degree at the University of South Africa.
How he went to jail
In 1955, Mandela and a few other colleagues wrote The Freedom Charter which stated “We are the people of South Africa, declare all our country and the world to know:- That South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white.” The government where not happy with The Freedom charter and arrested the people who made it, including Mandela. The trial lasted for a long 4 years before Mandela and his friends could be released. During that time, he fell in love again with Winnie Madikizela. He got married 1958 and had 2 children.
How he went to prison
When he got out of jail, Mandela he used a fake passport and used the fake name “David” Eventually, in 1962, he got arrested for leaving the country illegally and using a fake passport. He was sent to prison in the winter of 1962, to a place called “ROBBEN ISLAND”. And later was sent to a nice place that didn’t have a name. But he had a luxurious prison with pool, Jacuzzi and much more!
What happened when he got out?
He was released on February 2nd 1990 when State President F.W.de Klerk released him from prison because the man that but him there died and the state president thought what he did was right. In 1994, Nelson Mandela was one of the candidates for the South African President. And everyone in South Africa voted for Nelson Mandela to be president! He was president until 1999. Even when he wasn’t president, he was a very important member to South Africa!
What happens next?
Nelson Mandela is now lying in bed, very sick. Let’s all hope he has a long life!
By: Joshua Nair 5RI
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