Nelson Mandela by aya

NELSON MANDELA

CHILDHOOD

Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela (Rolihlahla, meaning troublemaker in Xhosa) was born on the 18th of July 1918, in a small village called Mvezo, Transkei in the beautiful Eastern Cape of South Africa! Because the English Europeans were ruling South Africa that time, Miss Mdingane (Rolihlahla’s school teacher) thought that every student should have an English name. So that’s how Nelson got his name, “Nelson Mandela”. Nelson Mandela was well-known for doing what he believed in and he even fought for his own freedom and other people’s freedom as well. He also was the first person in the world to mix the blacks and whites! Nelson has received more than 250 awards over four decades, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize. Nelson’s childhood was peacefully spent cattle herding the family’s sheep’s and goat’s!

Nelson Mandela was not the only child, as he had a younger sister called Lieby Piliso. Depressingly Nelson’s sister, Lieby Piliso had her funeral on February the 9^th 1997 which is 14 years away from now. She was a witness for 20 years, and was also a faithful servant of Jehovah up to her death for over twenty years, although her husband was not a great believer. Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela (also known as Nelson Mandela) had a second sister

Rolihlahla’s dad was named Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa who was served as chief of the tiny town Mvezo. Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa had four wives, with whom he fathered thirteen children, four boys and 9 girls. Mandela was born to his dad’s third wife, Nosekeni Fanny! Nosekeni Fanny was a daughter of Nkedama of the Mpemvu Xhosa clan.

Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela gradually became the first member of his family to attend a school, where his teacher Miss Mdingane gave him the English name "Nelson" as the English Europeans ruled South Africa that time! Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa (Nelson’s father) sent him to school at the age of 7! He soon became really intelligent and was smart enough to get his junior certificate in 2 years time instead of the usual three years time, as that is the time when you are actually supposed to earn your Junior certificate.. Not only his teacher taught him in School, but his mother taught him how to help others and many more at home. Nelson attended a Wesleyan mission school located next to the palace of the regent. Mandela’s school was only for black Africans, but was built by the white English Europeans who came to spread Christianity in the gorgeous South Africa. Sadly aged around 48, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa (Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela’s father) the chief became very ill and upsettingly died of a terrible disease called tuberculosis.

IMPRISONMENT/LIFE IN PRISON

Not so long later, Nelson Mandela began encouraging many other colored people to fight against the apartheid in South Africa. So for that reason he was arrested on the 5^th of August 1962 after living on the run for seventeen months, and was imprisoned in the Johannesburg Fort. Robben Island Prison was the first Prison that Nelson Mandela was sent to!! In Robben Island Prison rules were very basic and simple, since not all of the people imprisoned had to do hard labor!

In March 1982 Nelson moved to a new prison called Polls Moor Prison in Polls Moor Island which is quite similar to Robben Island Prison in Robben Island. Unlike Robben Island the new prison was cleaner but it was very well secured, so no one can escape! Unfortunately Nelson Mandela was only allowed 2 visitors a year for 30 minutes each, and could only write and send 2 letters a year. While he was in prison he became well known for being the most significant black African leader of all time! Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life in Prison horribly in Robben Island Prison; Polls moor Prison as well as Victor Verster Prison!

5 years later, Nelson Mandela was transferred to Victor Verster Prison and remained there until his lucky day which was his release day! Various restrictions were lifted and people such as Harry Schwarz were able to visit him. Harry Schwarz, a friend of Mandela, had known him since university when they were in the same law class. He was also a defense barrister at the Rivonia Trial and would become Mandela's ambassador to Washington during his presidency.

Nelson Mandela was visited several times over and over again by delegates of the International Committee of the Red Cross, while at Robben Island and later at Polls moor prison. Mandela had this to say about the visits: "to me personally, and those who shared the experience of being political prisoners, the Red Cross was a beacon of humanity within the dark inhumane world of political imprisonment."

wrote a speech in 26^th November 1995 to become president of South Africa.  Nelson was the first South African president to be elected in a fully respective democratic election!