Rolihlahla Mandela
This is Nelson Mandela. He was a revolutionary, a philanthropist, a politician and an incredibly kind human being. Can you see the kindness is his eyes?
He was born into a royal family of the Xhosa-speaking Thembu tribe in the South African village of Mvezo, Transkei, on 18 July 1918. In primary school his teacher, Miss Mdingane gave him the name Nelson, in accordance with the custom of giving all schoolchildren “Christian” names.
He was the first in his family to receive a formal education, he completed his primary studies at a local missionary school. He attended a Methodist secondary school, where he excelled in boxing and track as well as academics. He studied law at the University of Witwatersrand, where he became involved in the movement against racial discrimination and forged key relationship with black and white activists.
In 1944, Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC), his commitment to politics and the ANC grew stronger after the 1948 election victory of the Afrikaner-dominated National party. Nelson Mandela was in prison for 27 years by the South African apartheid government because he was standing up against a government that was committing human rights abuses against black South Africans. He got released from prison in 1990 and he went on to lead the way for the abolition of apartheid in 1994. He was elected the same year for president and became the first black president.
He had the courage to stand up and put an end to the apartheid and the establishment of a multiracial government. In his 4 years he established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate human rights and political violation committed by both supporters and opponents of apartheid between 1960 and 1994. At the end he formed a multiracial “Government of National Unity” and he proclaimed the country a “rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.
Nelson Mandela only served one term but he did not stopp there, he remained a devoted champion for peace and social justice in his own country and around the word. He established a number of organizations, including the influential Nelson Mandela Foundation that is still very big. He has spent 67 year making my country a better place and the 67 min wee give on the 18 of July as Nelson Mandela International day is to show that we are thankful and we are still trying to make South Africa a better place and that we are standing together as one.
Rolihlahla Nelson Mandel passed away on December 5th 2013 from a recurring lung infection but he walked among us as a man for 95 years and he will be remembered as a hero, great leader, and made history all around the world.
No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. – Nelson Mandela
By Marizaan Buytendorp, South Africa
Source Picture: forbes.com
Aletheia 