How long was Mandela in prison? Nelson Mandella: biography, photos, quotes, what he is famous for

Winnie met Nelson in 1957. By this point, his name was known to everyone in South Africa. The situation of the black population in the country was deplorable, and the ideas of the struggle against apartheid found more and more sympathizers. Skin color became the cause of daily humiliation - at work, on the street, in a store or in a hospital. Africans could study only at a few universities; on the bus they were required to sit in specially designated seats. In stores, stand in a separate line. If an African entered the “white toilet,” a scandal immediately broke out. " Ambulance“Before leaving, she checked the patient’s skin color: in some cases, the team had to wait 6-7 hours. Intimacy between representatives of different races had the status of a criminal offense. It is worth mentioning, perhaps, the most surprising legislative norm: Africans were stripped of their South African citizenship.

Nelson Mandela, at the time he met Winnie, headed the youth wing of the African National Congress, the oldest organization representing the interests of the indigenous population. The future spouses were united by politics: in her youth, Winnie joined a left-wing organization and enthusiastically studied social activities. A talented student was offered a grant to study in the USA, but she chose to stay in her homeland and got a job social worker to the hospital.

Nelson divorced his first wife when she became religious

The wedding took place a year after they met, in 1958. This was Nelson's second marriage. The first cracked when Evelyn's wife joined the society of Jehovah's Witnesses. She devoted all her time to “recruiting” new supporters; her husband also became a victim of religious agitation. As the politician admitted, this is what broke the boat family happiness. Unlike Evelyn, Winnie quickly became “politicized” after the wedding and joined the Women’s League of the African National Congress. There was no talk of any honeymoon: Mandela's trial was in full swing. The politician was accused of preparing a coup. In the morning he left for a court hearing, and in the evening he practiced law. True, after accusations of treason, clients were in no hurry to visit Mandela. And if they came, they received advice practically for nothing - the company specialized in helping black people, who, as a rule, did not have extra funds. So the future president of South Africa did not have a penny of money - the family existed on Vinny’s modest earnings as a social worker.

In 1958, parliamentary elections were held in South Africa. Africans, of whom there were about 13 million in the country, did not have the right to vote. Mandela organized demonstrations day and night, and his wife helped him in every possible way. Around this moment, the politician finally became convinced of the idea of ​​armed struggle. “We had no alternative to violent resistance. We had already used every nonviolent weapon in our arsenal—speeches, marches, strikes—all to no avail. The government met all our attempts with an iron hand”, writes Mandela in the book “Long Walk to Freedom”. Winnie was studying at that moment legal aspects status of women in South Africa. She shared her husband’s position entirely.

In the early 60s, the politician initiated bombings of government facilities and united tens of thousands of radical Africans around himself. In 1962, he was arrested and two years later sentenced to life imprisonment.

Rally in South Africa, August 1962

Vinnie found herself in a difficult position. On the one hand, the entire black population of the country expected her to continue Nelson’s work. On the other hand, it was obvious that she was taking a big risk. The government strengthened its policy of racial discrimination; for the slightest hint of political activity, an African could go to prison. The African National Congress was declared illegal. The idea of ​​equal rights for the “white” and “black” populations evoked such fierce resistance from the current government that even international sanctions did not help change the situation. Still, Winnie took the risk. She continued her husband's legal work, helping blacks defend their rights in the courts, did not miss a single rally and promoted the fight against apartheid. Mandela was under house arrest several times; was accused of preparing terrorist attack and spent a year and a half in prison, where she was tortured; after crowded protests in 1976, when several hundred students died, she was exiled to the town of Brandfort for 7 years. The possibilities of campaigning in this godforsaken place, of course, were limited. But Vinnie didn't give up.

A badge that was distributed among the indigenous population

It is interesting to see how the tone of her speeches changed over time. At first, the wife of the odious politician was clearly cautious and did not touch upon sensitive issues. Her speeches focused mainly on the situation of black women, educational opportunities for children, the maximum is a catastrophic incidence of AIDS in the country. But over time, Mandela realized that nothing serious threatened her. Her rhetoric has become much more aggressive. What is one performance worth on April 13, 1986! Then she publicly approved of a practice called “necklace.” Behind an innocent word is a sophisticated murder, an execution to which Africans subjected white-skinned South Africans. A victim was chosen from passers-by and taken to the slums. A tire was placed around the neck, with gasoline inside. Then they set it on fire. In her controversial speech, Winnie said: “With the help of our necklaces, we must liberate this country.” The politician skillfully manipulated the sentiments of Africans who were outraged by the forced relocation in the early 80s. Yet this ill-fated performance caused serious damage to her reputation.

Vinnie visited her husband in prison and at the same time had an affair with a young lawyer

Since 1988, events have unfolded rapidly. Under the guise of a football club, Vinny gathered a gang of bodyguards around her. They killed 14-year-old Stompie Moeketsi right in Mandela's house. The “Mother of the Nation” came up with an alibi for herself, but was accused of kidnapping and attacking Moeketsi. One of the gang members claimed that Vinny herself stabbed the unfortunate man, but she managed to get away with it. The court commuted the sentence due to lack of evidence, and instead of 6 years in prison, Mandela was given a fine. Vinnie's popularity level went through the roof, despite the scandal. Moreover, even white-skinned activists came out in support of her - they believed that Mandela was framed by the government.

A member of the "football club" reported that Vinny stabbed

However, it is unknown how our heroine’s career would have developed if Nelson had not been released in 1990. He began to actively “promote” his wife (though until he found out that she was having an affair with a young lawyer). In 1993, the “mother of the nation” was elected head of the Women’s League of the African National Congress.

Just days after Mandela became president, he appointed his wife as deputy minister of arts, culture, science and technology. But even here there was a scandal: in the very first month of work, she paid her bodyguards 40% of the amount that 39 ministers and their deputies spent on this purpose. In addition, Vinnie was presented with a huge mansion as a gift. The donor, as it turned out, was engaged in diamond smuggling. Mandela was charged with corruption and left office 11 months later.

Endless court cases and a divorce from Nelson did not break Vinnie. In 1999 she was elected to parliament, but in 2003 she again appeared in court. She was charged with 60 counts of fraud and 25 thefts. Together with her financial consultant, Winnie “cut” the budget of the African National Congress. By the way, after these accusations Nelson stopped publicly speaking out in support of ex-wife. Vinnie was forced to leave politics. True, she managed to avoid prison - the court upheld only the sentence on one episode of fraud (3.5 years probation).

Mandela cut through the ANC budget with her consultant

In 2007, Mandela was re-elected as a member of the executive committee of the African National Congress. This is surprising, but true. Neither the scandalous murder story nor the accusations of embezzlement could dispel the charm of this political figure for Africans. Winnie is still a legend in South Africa.

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These days, the entire world press remembers Nelson Mandela and the difficult path that he had to go through. One of South Africa's bravest human rights activists, he served as South Africa's first black president from 1994 to 1999, and spent 27 years in prison as a young man for his activism against the apartheid regime. A man of incredible charm, he became a legend during his lifetime.

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 near Umtata in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. At birth, he was given the name Rolihlahla, which literally means “tearing off the branches of trees,” and translated from the local language as “troublemaker, troublemaker.”

Nelson Mandela, 1961. (AFP Photo | Getty Images):

When he was in school, African children were given English names to make it easier for teachers to pronounce them. At that time it was a tradition among Africans. So Mandela began to be called Nelson (in honor of the British admiral).

Near Johannesburg, October 1990. (Photo by Alexander Joe | AFP | Getty Images):

He later continued his studies at Fort Hare University College, where he received a Master of Arts. At that time, it was the only institution of higher education in the country in which blacks were eligible to study. True, in 1940, Nelson Mandela was expelled from college for participating in a student strike. During his studies, he was interested in running and boxing.

Nelson Mandela after speaking from the balcony, June 16, 1990. (Photo by AP Photo | Rob Croese):

In 1943, Mandela was influenced by radical and Africanist ideas and took part in mass protest for the first time. In the 1950s, he was already one of the most active fighters against apartheid in South Africa, and was often arrested by the police.

This is just one of the arrests. Nelson Mandela leaves in a police van, Johannesburg, South Africa, December 31, 1956. (AP Photo):

Apartheid (African apartheid)- “discord, separateness.” Segregation of people of different races or cultures, oppression of people based on race or skin color.

US President Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela attend a ceremony honoring the two leaders in Philadelphia on July 4, 1993. (AP Photo | Greg Gibson):

By 1960, Mandela became the leader of the African National Congress (ANC). In 1961, the organization decided to switch to armed struggle against apartheid. Three years later, in June 1964, Nelson Mandela was arrested by South African security forces and sentenced to life imprisonment.

In this car are eight people sentenced to life imprisonment for their political activities. Among them is Nelson Mandela. A car leaves the Palace of Justice, Pretoria, June 16, 1964. (AFP Photo | Getty Images):

African women's rally in South Africa, August 16, 1962. They demand the release of Nelson Mandela from prison. (AP Photo | Dennis Lee Royle):

Rally in London's Hyde Park for the release of Nelson Mandela, July 17, 1988. (Photo by AP Photo | Gill Allen):

Nelson's second wife Winnie Mandela studies congratulations on the 70th birthday of the anti-apartheid fighter who is in prison. Johannesburg, 18 July 1988. (Photo by Walter Dhladhla | AFP | Getty Images):

He spent 27 years in prison. During his imprisonment, Nelson Mandela gained worldwide fame.

February 11, 1994. Nelson Mandela looks out of the window of his former prison cell. (Reuters Photo | Patrick de Noirmont):

During hard labor in the quarries, his eyesight was damaged. He was not temporarily released from prison even for the funeral of his mother and son. In 1985, he rejected South African President Peter Botha's offer to renounce political struggle in exchange for freedom.

South African President Nelson Mandela and US President Bill Clinton in cell number 5 on Robben Island, where Mandela served 18 years, on March 27, 1998. (Reuters Photo):

During the crisis of the apartheid system, Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990 at the age of 72.

The newly released Nelson Mandela enters the Soweto football stadium in South Africa to give a speech. 120,000 people came to listen to him on February 13, 1990. (AP Photo | Udo Weitz):

Upon his release, Mandela did not take revenge on his offenders for the 27 years of his life taken, although he headed the armed wing of the African National Congress. Once free, he chose the path of peace.

Irish musician Bob Geldof and Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, July 15, 1991. (AP Photo | John Parkin):

In 1993, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end apartheid. (Photo by Gerard Julien | AFP | Getty Images):

In 1994, South Africa held its first national elections with an African majority, and Nelson Mandela became first ever black president of South Africa.

Rally of supporters of the future president in Durban, April 24, 1994. (Reuters Photo):

Helicopters fly during the inauguration ceremony of the country's first black president, Nelson Mandela, in Pretoria, South Africa, May 10, 1994. (AP Photo):

Presidential swearing-in ceremony, May 10, 1994. (Photo by AP Photo | David Brauchli):

Speech by South Africa's first black president behind bulletproof glass at the inauguration ceremony, May 10, 1994. (Reuters Photo | Juda Ngwenya):

In 1996, Nelson's dream came true: under his leadership, a new constitution of South Africa was developed and adopted, which guaranteed all South Africans equal rights regardless of skin color, gender, or religious beliefs.

Nelson Mandela did not hold on to power and did not stand as a candidate for the new post of President of South Africa in the 1999 elections.

South African President Nelson Mandela and British Queen Elizabeth II ride in a carriage at Buckingham Palace during Mandela's state visit to Britain, July 9, 1996. (Reuters Photo):

“Nelson Mandela is the peaceful liberator of torn South Africa” (The New York Times).

President of South Africa on the second day of Mandela's state visit to the UK, London, 10 July 1996. (Reuters Photo | Dan Chung):

For many years after he left the presidency, Nelson Mandela's life was as contrasting as the rest of South Africa. He lived in two houses: either in one of the most prestigious areas of Johannesburg, or in a poor village where his ancestors lived. It’s exactly the same in the country now: businessmen and bankers on the one hand, poor peasants on the other.

South African President Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II listen to the national anthem at Johannesburg International Airport during the Pope's first official visit to the country, September 16, 1995. (Reuters Photo):

South African President Nelson Mandela and US First Lady Hillary Clinton with her daughter (left) at a meeting in Cape Town, March 20, 1997. (AP Photo | Doug Mills):

IN last years Nelson Mandela rarely appeared in public due to illness. But the country continued to celebrate each of his birthdays on a grand scale.

South African President Nelson Mandela greets Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Durban, September 2, 1998. (Photo by Odd Andersen | AFP | Getty Images):

In early June 2013, Nelson Mandela was hospitalized with a relapse of a lung infection.

Little copycat outside the hospital, July 14, 2013. (Photo by Christopher Furlong | Getty Images):

Former South African President Nelson Mandela and Michael Jackson in Sun City, South Africa, September 4, 1999. (Photo by Adil Bradlow | AFP | Getty Images):

“An entire era in the modern history of Africa is inextricably linked with the name of N. Mandela” (V. Putin).

"Yes I a common person"(Nelson Mandela)

Former South African President Nelson Mandela poses with his grandchildren at his home in South Africa on July 18, 2008. (Photo by AP Photo | Themba Hadebe):

Former South African President Nelson Mandela waves to the crowd at the football stadium during the closing ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg, July 11, 2010. (Reuters Photo | Michael Kooren):

Nelson Mandela celebrates his 94th birthday with his family, South Africa, July 18, 2012. (Photo by AP Photo | Schalk van Zuydam):

On the night of December 6, 2013, former South African President Nelson Mandela died at the age of 95. (Reuters Photo | Babu):

A charming world leader with an impeccable reputation.

Born into a family that was related to the country's ruling dynasty, Nelson Mandela devoted his life to ensuring that South Africa became a democratic country, and its population had the same rights and freedoms as citizens of Europe and America. Having given 27 years of his own freedom for this, Mandela became a symbol of a man who does not spare himself for the sake of others.

Family and childhood

Mandela was born into a family that came from a dynasty of rulers. But in fact, his father had no rights to the throne, since Nelson’s great-great-grandfather belonged to the younger descendants of the ruler.

The father of the future human rights activist was the head of the village in which they lived - Mfezo. But when his relations with the ruling authorities of the colony deteriorated, he was removed and sent to the Tsgun settlements along with his wives and children. Although he still retained a place in the Privy Council of the Tembu - the family of rulers of the South African nation to which they belonged - the Xhosa.

As was customary among the Xhosa people, Mandela's father had four wives. Nelson's third wife became his mother; his father had 13 children in total.

The name Rolilahla means “prankster”, and the boy was named Nelson by his teacher at school. It was common practice then for students to receive “non-African” names on the first day of school. Some associated this with the colonial traditions of the British, others with convenience. By the way, he became the first in his family to go to school.

When Nelson was nine, his father died - doctors were unable to cure him of a late form of tuberculosis. The mother took the boy to the palace of Jongintaba Delindyebo - he became Nelson's mentor and regent, and sent him to a school that was located not far from the palace.

Study and independent living

At the age of sixteen, Nelson went through the tradition of initiation, after which he entered the boarding university in Clarkbury. Studying was easy for Nelson. He received a certificate of complete secondary education as an external student: instead of three years, he studied for only two. Nelson also became the heir to his father's seat on the Privy Council, so after receiving his certificate, in 1937, he moved to the town of Beaufort-Fort, where he became a student at one of the local colleges. These were mainly attended by representatives of the dynasty that was in power - the Tembu. While studying, I started running and boxing.

In 1939 he was enrolled at the University of Fort Hare - the only educational institution in South Africa where he received higher education"colored" guys. In addition to dark-skinned people, people from India also received knowledge there. Nelson chose the humanities for himself.

At the end of the first academic year, a coup took place within the university: students protested against the policies followed by the university leadership. Nelson was given an ultimatum: either he becomes a member of the student government, or his studies end there. Mandela took the documents from Fort Hare.

In 1941, Mandela's regent decided to marry him, but Nelson did not really like this plan. So he decided to move to Johannesburg. There he went to work in a mine. Nelson got a job as a watchman, but was unable to work for long: the boss found out about his escape and fired Mandela. Tom had to look for a new place of residence again - he settled in the suburbs of Johannesburg. In addition, he wrote to his guardian, where he apologized for his childish behavior and explained that he did not intend to get married yet. Fortunately, Jongintaba understood his ward and even helped solve financial problems. He also began to support Nelson financially so that he could get an education.

Nelson went on an internship at a law firm as a clerk; he also graduated from the South African Institute in absentia, becoming a bachelor humanities.

Then, in 1943, he applied to the law faculty of the Witwatersrand Institute, but did not receive a diploma.

Resistance and ANC

Since 1943, Nelson periodically participates in actions against laws adopted by state authorities. As a result, he is a member of the African National Congress, and then serves as one of the founders of the Youth League. And if the AMK is limited to only peaceful protests against the current authorities, the League advocates more active actions.

In 1948, Nelson was hired as secretary of the AMK Youth League, a year later he was already a member of the council of this organization, and a year later he was already its president. Since the country has been ruled by the National Party of Africans, which supports apartheid, for two years now, Mandela becomes the organizer of an action of disobedience to the authorities. He understands that the NPA will soon ban the League, so he developed a plan to work underground.

In 1952, Nelson decided that it was necessary to help the population of the country not only in word, but also in deed. So he and a friend open Mandela and Tambo. This law firm was the first to provide free legal assistance and advice to blacks.

In 1955, Nelson helped organize the Congress of the People, during which the famous Charter of Freedoms was adopted. In it, activists described in detail the principles on which a democratic South Africa should be built. This Charter was adopted as their main plan of action by all parties that opposed apartheid in the country.

In December 1956, Nelson was arrested and charged with treason. But he was soon released, and the charges were dropped five years later.

In 1960, Mandela was proclaimed leader of the ANC. The organization decided that peaceful actions would not be enough to change the situation in the country, so in 1961 Nelson was elected head of the armed wing of the ANC. They were called “Umkhonto we Sizwe” - the spear of the nation. At first, their task was to destroy all military installations in the country - this is how the guerrilla war against apartheid began. Mandela, by hook or by crook, found sponsors abroad, and with their money he managed to carry out military training ANC groups. Already before the 80s, guerrilla warfare had grown to large-scale proportions. In some actions, civilians were also killed. Mandela himself confirmed that, while fighting apartheid, they also violated many human rights and freedoms for which they themselves fought.

27 years in solitary confinement

In August 1962, Mandela was caught after almost a year and a half of persecution. All this time, he was driving around the country under false documents as the driver of businessman Cecil Williams. The latter managed to move to England at the last moment.

In October, the court sentenced Nelson to five years in prison. Six months later, South African police, during a raid on a farm where one of the headquarters of apartheid resistance groups was located, found Mandela's diaries and plans. He was again accused of treason. Nelson initially faced the death penalty, but the sentence was soon changed to life in prison on Robbin Island.

There Mandela lived in solitary confinement, but was given the right to receive an education by correspondence. Thus he became a bachelor, receiving a law degree from the University of London. He spent eighteen years on Robbin Island, receiving only one letter every six months. In 1982 he was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison. Three years later, Mandela was offered early release if he promised not to wage a violent fight against the authorities. Nelson refused.

Liberation and Mandela's politics

In 1989, Frederik de Klerk became the new president of South Africa. He signed a decree in which he legalized the activities of the ANC, as well as all organizations that fought the apartheid regime.

On February 11, 1990, the whole world watched a live broadcast of Mandela's release from prison. In the following years, the ANC and Mandela, who became its leader, negotiated over the abolition of the current regime in South Africa. At the same time, murders of representatives of both sides took place in the country. But as a result of negotiations, in 1994, on April 27, South Africa finally held its first elections. The ANC received a majority of the votes and Mandela was elected president. His predecessor Frederik de Klerk became his deputy.

Mandela's government adopted a number of social laws that provided benefits to pregnant women and young mothers, children were provided with free medical care, more money began to be allocated for education.

Resigned in 1998.

He died at the age of 96 in 2013. He was buried in the village of Tsugu. According to his will, a third of his fortune went to his family, the rest of the money went to the ANC, scholarships for educated students and one-time payments to his employees.

• The man whose works motivated Mandela was Mahatma Gandhi.
• In 2001-2002, the terrorist organization Boer Force planned to assassinate Mandela. The assassination plan was foiled, the terrorists were arrested and sentenced to long prison terms.
• After Mandela left the presidency of South Africa in 1999, he began to actively call for more comprehensive coverage of HIV and AIDS. According to experts, there are now about five million HIV carriers and AIDS patients in South Africa - more than in any other country.
• Honorary member of more than 50 international universities.
• Mandela was married three times. Had 17 grandchildren
• In 1993, Mandela and de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
• In 1981, he was nominated for the position of honorary rector of the University of London, but lost to Princess Anne. At that time he was imprisoned on Robbin Island.

Titles and awards

• 1988 - United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights
• 1993 - Nobel Peace Prize.
• 1993 - Person of the Year.
• 1996 - Citizen of the World award.
• 2001 - Gandhi Peace Prize.

What Nelson Mandela, politician and president of South Africa, did, you will learn from this article.

Nelson Mandela short biography

Where was Nelson Mandela born?

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in the village of Mfezo, South Africa in the family of a member of the Privy Council of the Tembu tribe. He had 3 brothers and 9 sisters. He was named Holilala at birth, but when he went to school, his English teacher gave him a new English name. This is how Nelson Mandela appeared.

When he was 7 years old, the family moved to the village of Tsgunu. And 2 years later, Nelson’s father died. While studying at school and college, Mandela became addicted to running and boxing, which he continued to do for the rest of his life. At the age of 21, he was enrolled at the University of Fort Hare, but the future president studied there for only a year.

Mandela moved to Johannesburg in 1941 and first got a job as a watchman at a mine, and later as a junior clerk in a law office. Nelson, while working in absentia, is graduating from the University of South Africa with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then entered the Faculty of Law at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he met his future ministers, Harry Schwartz and Joe Slovo. Even as a student, he took an active part in meetings of intellectuals of the African National Congress and various rallies. In 1948, Mandela took over as chief secretary of the Afrikaner National Party and later became president of the Youth League of the African National Congress. The activist organizes a campaign of disobedience to authority and in 1955 convened the Congress of a Free People. This is how his political career began.

What is Nelson Mandela famous for?

He has a long way to go before becoming president of South Africa. He was the first to create a law office providing free services for blacks and compiled a list of principles for the society of the Republic of South Africa. The Freedom Charter he wrote would become the main document in the nonviolent struggle against the apartheid regime.

Realizing that nothing could be achieved peacefully, Nelson created a radical organization called Umkhonto we Sizwe. Members of the group carried out bombings of military and government targets. For organizing strikes, Nelson Mandela was sentenced to 5 years in prison in the fall of 1962. Soon new charges were brought against him, and the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. In prison statesman was 27 years old. But it was during this time that he became a world celebrity - the slogans “Free Nelson Mandela” were published in the foreign press. The black wrestler even managed to graduate in absentia from the University of London, receiving a bachelor's degree in law.

Since the mid-1980s, the government decided to compromise with Nelson Mandela: he was offered freedom if he abandoned the fight against apartheid. But the activist did not agree. It was only with the coming to power of Frederik Willem de Klerk in 1989 that the ban on the African National Congress was lifted and Mandela was released.

After leaving prison, he began to fight against the government. Thanks to his efforts, the first democratic elections in South Africa's history were held in 1994. And Nelson Mandela, having received more votes, became the first black president of South Africa.

During his presidential term, he achieved a lot - free education for children under 14 years of age, free medical care for pregnant women and children, increased subsidies for rural residents, introduced laws on land, on equality in employment, on the level of qualifications of workers. Mandela's government carried out large-scale work on electrification, telephone installation, construction of clinics, residential buildings and hospitals.

In 1999, Nelson Mandela retired and began fighting the spread of AIDS. He sought open coverage of this problem in South Africa, which is still the leader in the number of deaths from this disease.

Nelson Mandela's life was filled with more than just... government activities. He wrote a number of publications and autobiographies - “I’m Ready to Die”, “The Long Road to Freedom”, “Talking to Myself”, “The Struggle is My Life”.

In the summer of 2013, the activist was hospitalized because an old prison pulmonary disease worsened. Here he stayed until September. His condition was stable and critical. In November, Mandela's health deteriorated significantly and former president connected to a ventilator. Despite the efforts of the doctors, the inevitable happened: the day Nelson Mandela died was December 5, 2013. He was 95 years old.

Personal life of Nelson Mandela

The President of South Africa has been married three times. He first married Evelyn Makaziwa in 1944. The marriage produced 4 children - daughters Makaziwa Mandela, Pumla Makaziwa and sons Magkaho Lewanika and Madiba Thembekile. They separated in 1958. His second wife was Winnie Dlamini, with whom he married in 1958. She bore him 2 more daughters, Zindzi and Zenani. Graça Machel became her last life partner. They got married in 1998.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Xhosa Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela; July 18, 1918, Mpheso, near Umtata - December 5, 2013, Johannesburg). 8th President of South Africa (first black president) from May 10, 1994 to June 14, 1999, one of the most famous activists in the fight for human rights during the apartheid period, for which he was imprisoned for 27 years. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 1993.

Since 2004 - Delphic Ambassador for Youth and honorary member of the International Delphic Council. In July 2014, a special Delphic Summit was held in Nelson Mandela's birthplace (Umtata and Mfezo), as well as in East London, to mark the 20th anniversary of the victory of democracy in South Africa and the 20th anniversary of the International Delphic Council.

Nelson Mandela is also known as Madiba in South Africa.(one of the clan names of the Xhosa people). The oldest and longest-lived president of South Africa: he lived for 95 years (at the beginning of his presidency - 76 years, at the end - 81).

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Mfeso, a small village near Umtata. His family belongs to the junior branch of the Thembu dynasty (a Xhosa sub-ethnic community) ruling in the Transkei region of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. On his mother's side he was of Khoisan descent. His paternal great-grandfather (died 1832) was the ruler of Thembu. One of his sons, named Mandela, later became Nelson's grandfather (the surname came from him). At the same time, despite the direct connection with representatives of the ruling dynasty, belonging to the younger branch of the family did not give Mandela’s descendants the right to inherit the throne.

Nelson's father, Gadla Henry Mandela was the head of the village of Mfezo, however, after cooling relations with the colonial authorities, he was removed from his position and resettled with his family in Tsgunu, however, retaining a seat on the Thembu Privy Council.

Mandela's father had four wives, who bore him thirteen children (four sons and nine daughters). Mandela was born to his third wife, Nongapi Nosekeni, and was named Rolihlahla (Xhosa for “tree plucker” or colloquially for “prankster”). Holilala Mandela became the first in his family to go to school. There the teacher gave him an English name - “Nelson”. According to Mandela, “On the first day of school, my teacher Miss Mdingane gave each of the students a English name. This was a tradition among Africans at the time and was no doubt due to the British bias in our education. That day Miss Mdingane told me that my new name was Nelson. Why it is, I have no idea.”

At the age of nine, Mandela lost his father to tuberculosis, and Regent Jongintaba became his official guardian. In his youth he attended Methodist primary school, located near the regent's palace. At the age of sixteen, according to Thembu tradition, he underwent an initiation ceremony. Subsequently, he studied at the Clarkbury Boarding Institute, where in two years instead of the required three he received a Junior Certificate. As heir to his father's seat on the Privy Council, Mandela moved to Fort Beaufort in 1937, where he attended one of the Methodist colleges from which most of the ruling Thembu dynasty graduated. At the age of nineteen he became interested in boxing and running.

After enrolling in 1939 at the University of Fort Hare (the only university in the country at that time in which black residents and residents of Indian and mixed origin were eligible to study), Mandela began studying for a Bachelor of Arts. At university he met Oliver Tambo, who became his lifelong friend and colleague. In addition, Mandela developed a close friendship with his nephew Kaiser Matanzima, who was Jongintaba's son and heir. However, after coming to power, Matanzima supported the Bantustan policy, which led to serious differences with Mandela.

At the end of his first year of study, Mandela took part in a boycott organized by the Student Representative Council against the policies of the university management. Having refused to take a seat on the Student Representative Council despite an ultimatum from the leadership, and expressing his disagreement with the course of the elections, he decided to leave Fort Hare.

Shortly after leaving the University, Mandela was notified by his regent of his upcoming wedding. Dissatisfied with this turn of events, in 1941 Mandela, along with his cousin decided to flee to Johannesburg, where he got a job as a watchman at one of the local gold mines. After working there for a short time, he was fired from there by his boss, who learned about his escape from his guardian. After settling in the Johannesburg suburb of Alexandra, Mandela eventually contacted his guardian, expressing regret for his behavior. Subsequently, he managed to obtain not only the consent of the guardian, but also financial assistance to continue your education. Later, thanks to the help of his friend and mentor Walter Sisulu, whom he met in Johannesburg, Mandela got a job as a trainee clerk in one of the law firms.

While working for the firm, he was able to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Africa by correspondence in 1942, after which he began studying law at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1943, where he met such future anti-apartheid activists as Joe Slovo and Harry Schwartz (in Mandela’s government, Slovo will subsequently take the post of Minister of Housing, and Schwartz will become South Africa’s Ambassador to the USA).

Mandela studied in the Witwatersrand until 1948, but for a number of reasons he never received a law degree. At the same time, it was during this period of his life that Nelson found himself under strong influence liberal, radical and Africanist ideas.

In 1943, he first took part in a mass action - protests against increasing bus fares, and also began attending meetings of young intellectuals, held on the initiative of the leader of the African National Congress (ANC). Other participants in the meetings included Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, Anton Lembede and Ashley Mda. In April 1944, Mandela became a member of the ANC and, together with his like-minded people, took part in the creation of the Youth League, in which he became a member of the executive committee. The manifesto of the league, which was based on the principles of African nationalism and self-determination, rejected any possibility of participation in advisory councils and in the Council of Native Representatives. In general, the league took a more militant position towards the official authorities of the country than the leadership of the ANC, whose activities were repeatedly criticized by it for its connivance.

After the victory in the 1948 elections of the Afrikaner National Party, which supported apartheid policies, Mandela began to take an active part in the political life of the country. In 1948 he became national secretary of the ANC Youth League, in 1949 - a member of the ANC National Council, in 1950 - national president of the ANC Youth League.

In 1952, Mandela became one of the organizers of the Defiance Campaign, initiated by the ANC. At the same time, he developed the so-called “Plan M”, which provided guidance on the activities of the ANC underground in the event of a ban by the authorities. In 1955, he participated in organizing the Congress of the People, which adopted the Freedom Charter, which set out the basic principles for building a free and democratic society in South Africa. The Freedom Charter became the main program document of the ANC and other political organizations in South Africa that fought against the apartheid regime.

In 1952, Mandela and his colleague Oliver Tambo created the first black-led law firm, Mandela and Tambo, which provided free or low-cost legal aid to Africans.

He had a significant influence on the views and methods of political struggle of Mandela (in January 2007, Mandela took part in an international conference in New Delhi, where the centenary of the introduction of Gandhi’s ideas on non-violence to South Africa was celebrated).

On December 5, 1956, Mandela and 150 others were arrested by authorities and charged with treason. The main point of the charge was commitment to communism and preparation of a violent overthrow of power. The trial, which lasted from 1956 to 1961, resulted in the acquittal of all defendants.

Between 1952 and 1959, a new group of black activists called "Africanists" broke with the African National Congress to demand more decisive measures against the National Party regime and opposing cooperation with the Communist Party and political organizations of other racial groups of the South African population.

The ANC leadership, represented by Albert Luthuli, Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu, witnessed not only the growing popularity of Africanists, but also saw them as a threat to their leadership. Subsequently, the ANC strengthened its position through cooperation with small political parties representing the interests of the white, mixed and Indian populations, thus trying to gain support from a wider range of people than the Africanists.

Africanists, in turn, criticized the Kliptown Conference of 1955, at which the Freedom Charter was adopted, for the concessions that the ANC, with a strength of 100 thousand people, made to get one vote in the Congress Union. Four general secretaries of its five member organizations were secretly members of the reconstituted South African Communist Party.

In 2002, a biography of U. Sisulu was published, in which, in the words of Sisulu himself, it was stated that he had been a member of the Communist Party since 1955, and since 1958 a member of its Central Committee.

In 2003, the SACP Secretary General confirmed that ANC Secretary General Walter Sisulu had secretly joined the SACP in 1955. So all five general secretaries were members of the Communist Party.

There is ample evidence to indicate that Mandela was also a member of the South African Communist Party in the late 1950s and early 1960s. A number of prominent SACP figures speak about this with certainty: Joe Matthews, Duma's widow Nokwe, Brian Bunting and some others. I. I. Filatova, in a biographical article dedicated to Mandela, points out that the facts support the opinion that Mandela was a communist and, moreover, was a member of the Central Committee of the SACP. If this assumption is correct, then the entire original leadership of Umkhonto we Sizwe consisted of communists.

In 1959, Africanists, with financial support from Ghana and political assistance from Lesotho, formed the Pan-Africanist Congress under the leadership of Robert Sobukwe and Potlako Leballo.

In 1961, Mandela led the armed wing of the ANC, of ​​which he was one of the organizers, Umkhonto we Sizwe (translated from Zulu as “spear of the nation”). As a result, he began a policy of bombing government and military targets, which allowed for guerrilla warfare in the event of failure in the fight against the apartheid regime. In addition, Mandela managed to raise money abroad and organize military training for members of the wing.

ANC member Wolfie Kadesh explained the aims of the campaign this way: “...from 16 December 1961 we were to begin bombing symbolic apartheid sites such as passport offices, local magistrates' courts..., post offices and... government offices. But this had to be done in such a way that no one was hurt, no one was killed.” In the future, Mandela spoke about Wolfie in the following way: “His knowledge of warfare and his direct combat experience were extremely useful to me.”

According to Mandela, armed struggle became the last resort. Years of increasing state repression and violence convinced him that the nonviolent struggle against the apartheid regime had not and could not achieve the expected results.

Later, in the 1980s, Umkhonto we Sizwe launched a large-scale guerrilla war against the apartheid government, during which many civilians were injured. According to Mandela, the ANC also grossly violated human rights in its struggle against the apartheid regime. For this, he sharply criticized those in his party who tried to remove allegations of abuses by the ANC from reports prepared by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Until July 2008, Mandela and members of the ANC were prohibited from entering the United States (except for the right to visit the UN headquarters in New York) without special permission from the US Secretary of State due to the party's designation as a terrorist organization by the former apartheid government of South Africa.

On August 5, 1962, Mandela, who had been on the run for seventeen months, was arrested on a road near Hauvik in Natal under unusual circumstances. Mandela was driving a car in which businessman Cecil Williams was sitting. Williams made paperwork for Mandela in the name of David Motsamaya, and officially hired him as a driver. The South African police had no idea that the commander of Umkhonto we Sizwe could travel in this car throughout South Africa. Mandela was imprisoned in Johannesburg, but Williams managed to escape to England and died in 1978. The success of the operation was largely possible thanks to the assistance of the US CIA, which provided the South African police with information about his alleged whereabouts.

Three days later, in court, Mandela was charged with organizing a workers' strike in 1961 and illegally crossing the state border. On October 25, 1962, he was sentenced to five years in prison.

On July 11, 1963, South African police organized a raid on the Liliesleaf farm in the Johannesburg suburb of Rivonia. According to Denis Goldberg, one of Nelson Mandela's associates, MI6 officers disguised as ornithologists, armed with binoculars, monitored him. According to Goldberg, in 1963 a suspicious caravan was spotted near the farm - “We believe there was a British intelligence agent in the caravan town. Everyone thought he was a birdwatcher because he climbed a telegraph pole every day with binoculars, but I think we were the birds he was watching."

The result was the arrest of several prominent ANC leaders, including Goldberg, but Mandela was not at the farm, but the police seized his notes and diaries. The detainees were charged with four counts of organizing sabotage, which carried the death penalty, as well as charges of committing crimes equivalent to treason. In addition, they were charged with developing a plan to bring foreign troops into South Africa (Mandela categorically rejected this charge). Among the accusations that Mandela agreed to was collaboration with the ANC and the SACP in the use of explosives to destroy water, electricity and gas supplies in South Africa. During his appearance at the trial on April 20, 1964, Supreme Court

In his defense speech, he described how the ANC had used peaceful means to combat the apartheid regime before the Sharpeville shootings. The holding of a referendum, as a result of which South Africa was created, and the introduction of a state of emergency in the country, along with the ban on the activities of the ANC, convinced Mandela and his supporters that the only true way to fight for their rights was through acts of sabotage. Any other activity was tantamount to unconditional surrender.

In addition, Mandela stated that the developed manifesto of the armed wing “Umkhonto we Sizwe” was aimed at the failure of the National Party’s policies. Helping achieve this goal was a drop in the interest of foreign companies that would refuse to invest in the country's economy. At the conclusion of his speech, Mandela stated: “Throughout my life, I have devoted myself entirely to the struggle for the African population. I fought against both white supremacy and black supremacy. I revered the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all citizens live in harmony and have equal opportunity. This is the ideal for which I am ready to live and for which I strive. But if it becomes necessary, then for the sake of this ideal I am ready to die.".

All defendants, with the exception of Rusty Bernstein, were found guilty, but on June 12, 1964, their sentence was changed to life imprisonment.

Mandela served his sentence on Robben Island, near the Cape of Good Hope, from 1962 to 1990, where he spent the next eighteen of his twenty-seven years in prison under prison code 46664. While imprisoned in solitary confinement, Mandela gained worldwide fame. On the island, he and other prisoners were forced to work in a limestone quarry. All those serving time were separated by skin color, with blacks receiving the smallest portions of food. Political prisoners were kept separate from ordinary criminals and enjoyed fewer privileges. According to Mandela's memoirs, as a D-group prisoner, he was entitled to one visit and one letter within six months. Incoming letters were often delayed or became unreadable due to the actions of prison censors.

While in prison, Mandela studied at the University of London under the distance learning and subsequently received a Bachelor of Laws degree. In 1981, he was nominated for the position of honorary rector of the university, but lost to Princess Anne.

In March 1982, Mandela, along with other ANC leaders (Walter Sisulu, Andrew Mlangeni, etc.) was transferred to Pollsmoor prison. Presumably, the main reason for these actions was the desire of the authorities to protect the new generation of black activists serving their sentences on Robben Island from the influence of these leaders. However, according to the chairman of the National Party, Kobi Kotsi, the purpose of this move was to establish contacts between the convicts and the South African government.

In February 1985, South African President Peter Botha offered Mandela his release in exchange for "an unconditional renunciation of violence as a political weapon." However, Kotsi and other ministers advised Botha to abandon his proposal, since, in their opinion, Mandela would never renounce armed struggle in exchange for personal freedom. Indeed, Mandela rejected the president's initiative, saying through his daughter: “What other freedom is offered to me when the people's organization remains prohibited? Only free people can enter into negotiations. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts.".

In November 1985, the first meeting between Mandela and the National Party government took place when Kotsi visited the politician in a Cape Town hospital after undergoing prostate surgery. Over the next four years, another series of meetings took place, during which the basis for future contacts and the negotiation process was created. However, they did not lead to tangible results.

In 1988, Mandela was transferred to Victor Verster prison, where he remained until his release. At this time, many restrictions were lifted, as a result of which Mandela's friends, including Harry Schwartz, who defended the interests of Mandela and his supporters during the Rivonia trial, were allowed to meet with him.

During Mandela's imprisonment, local and international media put significant pressure on the South African authorities, using the slogan "Free Nelson Mandela!" (translated from in English- “Free Nelson Mandela!”).

In 1989, Botha was replaced as President of South Africa by Frederik Willem de Klerk after a heart attack.

After the last white president of South Africa, Frederik de Klerk, signed a decree legalizing the ANC and other movements against the apartheid regime, Mandela was released. This event took place, broadcast live around the world, on February 11, 1990.

On the day of his release, Mandela gave a speech to the nation.

He expressed an interest in peacefully resolving differences with the country's white population, but made it clear that the ANC's armed struggle was not over when he stated: “Our resort to armed struggle in 1960, when the armed wing of the ANC, Umkhonto we Sizwe, was created, was purely a defensive step against the violence of the apartheid regime. The factors that made armed struggle necessary still exist. We have no choice but to continue what we started. We hope that a climate favorable to resolving problems through negotiations will soon be created so that there will no longer be a need for armed struggle.". Moreover, Mandela stated that he main goal what remains is achieving peace for the country's black majority and giving them the right to vote in both national and local elections.

Shortly after his release, Mandela returned to the position of leader of the ANC, and between 1990 and 1994 the party took part in the negotiation process to end apartheid, which resulted in the holding of the first national elections on a racial basis.

In 1991, the ANC held its first national conference after the ban on its activities in South Africa was lifted. At it, Mandela was elected president of the organization. In turn, Oliver Tambo, who led the ANC in exile during Mandela's imprisonment, became national chairman.

In 1993, Mandela and de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Despite this, relations between the politicians were often tense, especially after a bitter exchange of statements in 1991, when Mandela called de Klerk the head of an “illegitimate, discredited minority regime.” In June 1992, after the Boipatong massacre, negotiations initiated by the ANC were interrupted, and Mandela blamed the South African government for the killings. However, after another massacre, but this time in Bisho, which took place in September 1992, the negotiation process was resumed.

Shortly after the assassination of ANC leader Chris Hani in April 1993, fears arose of a new wave of violence in the country. After this event, Mandela appealed to the nation to remain calm. Despite the fact that several riots followed the murder, negotiations continued, and as a result of their results an agreement was reached, according to which democratic elections were scheduled for April 27, 1994 in the country.

In the parliamentary elections held in April 1994, the ANC received 62% of the votes. On May 10, 1994, Mandela, who led the ANC, officially took office as President of South Africa, becoming the first black resident of the country to hold this position.

National Party leader Frederik Willem de Klerk was appointed First Deputy President and Thabo Mbeki Second Deputy in the Government of National Unity.

As President of South Africa from May 1994 to June 1999, Mandela achieved international recognition for his contributions to national and international reconciliation.

During his years in office, Mandela undertook a number of important socio-economic reforms with the goal of overcoming social and economic inequalities in South Africa. Among the key measures of his presidency are: the introduction in 1994 of free health care for all children under six years of age and for pregnant and breastfeeding women using the service government agencies
healthcare;
the launch of the so-called “Reconstruction and Development Program”, which aimed to finance social services (industries such as housing and communal services and healthcare);
an increase in spending on state benefits by 13% by 1996/1997, by 13% by 1997/1998, by 7% by 1998/1999;
introducing equality in the payment of benefits (including disability benefits, parental capital and pensions) regardless of race;
the introduction of cash benefits for the maintenance of children of black residents in rural areas;
a significant increase in spending on education (25% in 1996/1997, 7% in 1997/1998 and 4% in 1998/1999);
the passing of the Land Return Act in 1994, which gave rights to those dispossessed by the 1913 Native Land Act to claim the return of land; the adoption of the Land Reform Act in 1996, which protected the rights of land tenants who lived and occupied agriculture
on farms. According to this law, tenants could not be deprived of land ownership without a court decision and upon reaching 65 years of age;
the introduction of child support grants in 1998 to combat child poverty;
the adoption in 1995 of the Labor Relations Law, which regulated issues of labor relations in enterprises, including ways to resolve labor disputes;
the adoption of the Basic Employment Conditions Act in 1997, aimed at protecting workers' rights;
the passage of the Employment Equity Act in 1998, which abolished race-based employment discrimination;
connecting more than 3 million residents to telephone networks;
reconstruction and construction of 500 clinics;
connecting more than 2 million residents to electrical networks;
construction of more than 750 thousand houses in which 3 million people settled;
providing access to water to 3 million residents;
introduction of compulsory education for African children aged 6-14 years;
providing free meals to 3.5-5 million schoolchildren;
the passage of the Mine Health and Safety Act in 1996, which improved working conditions for miners;
started implementation in 1996 National Policy in the matter of ensuring medicines, which made it easier for the population to access life-saving medicines.

From April 28 to April 30, 1999, Nelson Mandela was in Russia on a state visit. Mandela and the President of the Russian Federation signed a “Declaration on the principles of friendly relations and partnership between Russian Federation and the Republic of South Africa" ​​Nelson Mandela awarded Yeltsin the Order of Good Hope, 1st class. Balkan topics became one of the main topics during the meetings. The positions of the heads of state converged on the condemnation of NATO aggression against Yugoslavia, and Yeltsin was so carried away that he even called Mandela a famous and long-time fighter for the freedom of Yugoslavia, but immediately corrected the reservation. Mandela later visited Red Square, Lenin's Mausoleum and Novodevichye Cemetery, where his fellow countrymen (a member of the Comintern executive committee and two Communist Party figures: John Marx and Moses Kotane) were buried.

Honorary member of more than 50 international universities.

After Mandela left the presidency of South Africa in 1999, he began to actively call for more comprehensive coverage of HIV and AIDS. According to experts, there are now about five million HIV carriers and AIDS patients in South Africa - more than in any other country. He remained until the end of his life one of the oldest politicians of the 20th century living on the planet.

When Nelson Mandela's son Makgahoe died of AIDS, Mandela called for a fight against the spread of this deadly disease.

He was a member of the Elders, an organization created to help resolve conflicts around the world, including in areas such as Darfur and Kenya.

In 2011 during civil war in Libya and intervention Western countries Mandela took sides: “Gaddafi is our leader in everything. No African leader will have his weight, his importance and his appeal. This is the builder, the creator; when I look at this, I understand what this man did for his country despite the opposition of the West, the clouds of missiles that killed his children, he did not give in, he is fearless. This man is definitely a saint. You must be able to speak on a first-name basis with God, for this you need to have this skill. He turned Libya into a debt-free, prosperous country that invested in the economy of sub-Saharan Africa. Some of Africa's leaders rushed to freeze the Libyans' deposits (Gambia and others). Senegal has recognized the GNA, South Africa has not yet recognized the transitional council, but we know that Zuma is a weather vane. They forgot that the African National Congress was supported by Gaddafi when Nelson Mandela was a prisoner. Gaddafi is one of the rare leaders who supported Madib, that is, Mandela. Why can't you hear him? Why doesn’t this man, who is listened to in the West, use his influence (his political weight) to end the suffering of the Libyan people?”.

Nelson Mandela died on December 5, 2013 at the age of 96 at his home in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton Estate surrounded by his family. Mandela's death was announced by South African President Jacob Zuma. Zuma said: “He left quietly at about 8.50pm on December 5 in the presence of relatives. Our nation has lost a great son."

On February 2, 2014, Mandela's will was publicly announced. The fortune was 46 million rand ($4.13 million). The inheritance also includes two houses in Johannesburg and the Eastern Cape, income from books written. The executor, Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa Dikgang Moseneke, summing up the will said that: “We read wills to families, always keeping in mind the emotions that such an act sometimes evokes. But everything went well. I don't think there will be any protests. The will was duly presented and accepted and registered.” The terms of the will can be challenged within the next 90 days. R1.5 million and a portion of royalties from future earnings are donated to the Mandela Family Foundation. A portion of the proceeds will be given to the African National Congress to be spent at the discretion of the party leadership to disseminate information about the principles and policies of the ANC, with an emphasis on the policy of reconciliation. Mandela's closest employees will receive 50 thousand rand ($5 thousand) each. Four more educational institutions and several scholarship funds will also receive R100,000.

Personal life of Nelson Mandela:

Was married three times:

First marriage (1944-1958) to Evelyn Mandela (1922-2004). Four children - sons: Madiba Thembekile Mandela (1945-1969; died in a car accident; authorities did not allow Nelson Mandela, who was then in prison, to attend his son's funeral), Magkaho Lewanika Mandela (1950-2005); daughters: Makaziwa Mandela (died 1948 at the age of 9 months); Pumla Makaziwa Mandela (b. 1954);

Second marriage (1958-1996) to Winnie Mandela (b. 1936). Two daughters: Zenani Dlamini (b. 1959); Zindzi Mandela (b. 1960);

Third marriage (1998-2013) with Graça Machel (b. 1945);

He had 17 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Mandela's great-granddaughter Zenani (1997-2010) died in a car accident after a concert dedicated to the opening of the World Cup in South Africa.