NELSON MANDELA -Ana María Restrepo V

NELSON ROLIHLAHLA MANDELA

Born: 07/18/1918

Died: 12/05/2013

Birthplace: Transkei, South Africa

He was the son of one of South Africa's leading dignitaries, Chief Henry Mandela, and He was as a young law student that he became involved in political opposition to the white minority regime. Joining the African National Congress (ANC) in 1942, he co-founded his more dynamic Youth League two years later.

He had been committed to non-violent mass struggle. In 1961 he became the commander of the ANC's armed wing. In August of the following year, he was arrested and jailed for five years. In June 1964, he was sentenced again, this time to life imprisonment, for his involvement in planning armed action.

He started his prison years in the Robben Island Prison.  In April 1984, he was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison and in December 1988 he was moved to the Victor Verster Prison from where he was eventually released.

Mandela remained in prison until February 1990, when he sustained ANC campaigning and international pressure led to his release. Few years later He won Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

After his release, Mandela returned to the leadership of the ANC and, between 1990 and 1994. As the first black president of South Africa (1994 - 1999) he presided over the transition from minority rule and apartheid.

Following his retirement as president in 1999, Mandela went on to become an advocate for a variety of social and human-rights organizations.

Because his health was declining, Mandela chose to retire from public life in 2004. Although in November 2009, Mandela's contributions to world freedom were rewarded with a unique gesture by the United Nations General Assembly. 18 July, would be known as Mandela Day.

His last public outing was during the closing ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg.

Mandela was married three times, his first daughter Zenani was born in 1958. The second daughter Zindzi was born in 1960. His youngest daughter was just 18 months old when he was sent to prison.

He passed away on 5 December 2013 of a lung infection at his home in Johannesburg. He was 95 years old.