Mandela, Nelson, 1918-2013

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (b. July 18, 1918, Umtata, South Africa–d. Dec. 5, 2013, Johannesburg, South Africa) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by tackling institutionalised racism and fostering racial reconciliation. Ideologically an African nationalist and socialist, he served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) party from 1991 to 1997.

A Xhosa, Mandela was born to the Thembu royal family in Mvezo, British South Africa. He was given the name Nelson by a primary school teacher in accordance with the custom of giving all schoolchildren “Christian” names. Mandela received his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University College of Fort Hare. He enrolled in law school at the University of the Witwatersrand but did not complete his degree; in 1952 he was excluded for non-payment of fees. Eventually, he received his LLB through the University of South Africa in 1989 while in the last months of his imprisonment. Even without a law degree, Mandela could practice law. He was articled by the law firm Witkin, Sidelsky and Eidelman. In August 1952 he and Oliver Tambo established South Africa’s first black law firm, Mandela & Tambo.

He became involved in anti-colonial and African nationalist politics, joining the ANC in 1944. After the National Party's white-only government established apartheid, a system of racial segregation that privileged whites, he and the ANC committed themselves to its overthrow. Mandela was appointed President of the ANC's Transvaal branch, rising to prominence for his involvement in the 1952 Defiance Campaign and the 1955 Congress of the People. He was repeatedly arrested for seditious activities and was unsuccessfully prosecuted in the 1956 Treason Trial. In 1962, Mandela was arrested charged for leaving the country illegally and inciting workers to strike for which he received a 5 year sentence. Whilst serving his sentence he was charged for sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial and was given a life sentence with seven other leaders on June 12, 1964

Mandela served 27 years in prison, split between Robben Island, Pollsmoor Prison, and Victor Verster Prison. Amid growing domestic and international pressure, and with fears of a racial civil war, President F. W. de Klerk released him in 1990. Mandela and de Klerk led efforts to negotiate an end to apartheid, which resulted in the 1994 multiracial general election in which Mandela led the ANC to victory and became President. Leading a broad coalition government which promulgated a new constitution, Mandela emphasised reconciliation between the country's racial groups and created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate past human rights abuses. Economically, Mandela's administration retained its predecessor's liberal framework despite his own socialist beliefs, also introducing measures to encourage land reform, combat poverty, and expand healthcare services. Internationally, he acted as mediator in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial and served as Secretary-General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999. He declined a second presidential term and in 1999 was succeeded by his deputy, Thabo Mbeki. Mandela became an elder statesman and focused on combating poverty and HIV/AIDS through the charitable Nelson Mandela Foundation.