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Nelson Mandela: The President of South Africa and anti-apartheid activist was born today

Nelson Mandela: The President of South Africa and anti-apartheid activist was born today

Today is the day of the anti-apartheid South African activist and former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela who helped to bring an end to apartheid. He was a global advocate for human rights. He was popularly called as Nelson Mandel but his full name was Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who was born today to eradicate the racial discrimination from his country. He served as a President of South Africa from 1994-1999 and was South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist.

He was the first black head of state in South Africa. In 1940’s he was a member of the African National Congress party and elected in the fully representative democratic election. He was mainly focused on tackling institutionalised racism and dismantling the legacy of apartheid by forwarding the racial reconciliation. In 1999 after the retirement from the politics, he remained devoted champion for peace and social justice in his country and around the world till the death.

In 1952 he qualified as a lawyer and opened a law practice in Johannesburg with his partner Oliver Tambo. They both campaigned together against apartheid and the system devised by all white people who oppressed the black majority. Later in 1956, he was charged with high treason along with 155 other activists but charges against him were dropped after a four-year trial. Then in 1962, he was prisoned for 27 years.

Family Background

This greatest personality was born on 18 July 1918 into a royal family of the Xhosa-speaking Thembu tribe in the South African village of Mvezo where his father Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa was served as a chief. And his mother Nosekeni Fanny was the fourth wife of Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa who together bore him nine daughter and four sons. Nelson Mandela father died in 1927 when he was just nine years old. Later the high-ranking Thembu regent Jongintaba Dalindyebo who began grooming his young ward for a role within the tribal leadership. While enrolled for a law degree at the mainly white Witswaterand University he met people from all races and backgrounds and was exposed to liberal, radical and Africanist thought along with racism and discrimination which filled him with a passion for politics.

About the author

Pallavi Parmar

Journalism is my profession, Blogging and Writing are my passion, Travelling is my love, Food is my life and Feminist by nature.