- Whilst at university Nelson Mandela became increasingly aware of the unjust nature of South African Society. The majority of Black South Africans had little opportunities either Economic or Political.
- expelled from Fort Hare for organising a student strike.
- Mandela had to resign from the ANC and work underground.
- In the late 50s (56 รข€’61) there was an extremely lengthy Treason Trial in which Mandela and several others were charged with treason.
- However in 1960 the Sharpeville massacre of 63 black South African’s changed the whole political climate.
- However by 1962 Mandela had been arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in the notorious Robben Island prison.
- However in his autobiography Mandela reveals how he sought to make the best use of his time there.
- Although negotiations were painfully slow and difficult, they eventually led to Mandela’s release in 1990.
- His advocacy of reconciliation led to international acclaim and importantly the trust of the White African population.
Achievement
- In 1952 Mandela and Tambo opened the first Black Law firm in South Africa.
- In 1944 Mandela helped found the ANC Youth League, whose Programme of Action was adopted by the ANC in 1949.
- Conducting their own defence they eventually proved to be victorious.
- However on 10 May 1994 Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first democratically elected State President of South Africa on and was President until June 1999.
- He is one of the few politicians who have gone beyond a political role; he is widely admired and has received many prestigious awards.
- In 1993 Nelson Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prizejointly with F.W. De Klerk
