Nelson Mandela

What makes this man such a towering leader? Nelson Mandela's famous quotes, his speeches, his time in prison, his early life all had a hand in moulding him into the person we know today as the first black South African president. His name has become synonymous with South Africa and in particular Cape Town due to his imprisonment on Robben Island.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in a small village in Transkei, Eastern Cape, South Africa on the 18 July 1918. He became Paramount Chief 's ward to be groomed to assume high office on the death of his father.

However, influenced by the cases that came before the Chief's court, he determined to become a lawyer. Hearing the elders' stories of his ancestors valour during the wars of resistance in defence of their fatherland, he dreamed also of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people.

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He finally completed his LLB at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, becoming interested further in politics at this time. In 1944 he helped found the ANC Youth League, whose Programme of Action was adopted by the ANC in 1949.

After years of being actively associated with the ANC, Nelson Mandela was arrested, having returned to South Africa from Algeria, where he was undergoing military training. He was arrested for leaving the country illegally and for inciting a strike and in November 1962, was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

While serving his sentence, he was charged, in the Rivonia trial, with sabotage and sentenced to life imprisonment. He served his time on Robben Island.

"After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended." -- Nelson Mandela

During his imprisonment, Mandela became a symbol of the anti-apartheid movement among South Africa's black population and among the international community that opposed apartheid. Mandela rejected several government offers to allow him to leave prison on the condition that he renounce violence. Mandela was released from prison and instantly became an international celebrity.

Mandela shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 with F.W. deKlerk, South Africa's last white president. Their combined efforts ended apartheid and brought about a peaceful transition to non-racial democracy in South Africa.

Three years after his release, South Africans of all races were allowed to vote for the first time in a national election. They selected Mandela as their president, giving him 62% of the vote. The same person who was once was a symbol of black resistance in South Africa later eventually because the nation's first black president. Crime increased during his term, but the violent war between the races ended.

"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." -- Nelson Mandela, Former Prime Minister of South Africa

Read Nelson Mandela's speech that he gave on his release from prison in 1990 at the Town Hall in Cape Town.



If you'd like to read Nelson Mandela's book, 'Long Walk to Freedom', why not go to Amazon to get the best prices.

You can also order his new book, 'In His Own Words:From Freedom to the Future', which is published in December 2004.

IN HIS OWN WORDS is a selection of Nelson Mandela's speeches, providing a lively, memorable profile of his lifelong commitment to freedom and reconciliation, democracy, and the flourishing of all the people of South Africa, Africa and the world.

Arranged thematically, each section of speeches is introduced by a leading figure, such as Kofi Annan and Desmond Tutu. In these introductory essays, the authors pay tribute to Nelson Mandela's achievements, animating their accounts with personal memories, stories and reflections.

Covering a range of topics of our times - struggle and reconciliation, freedom, religion and nation building, culture, education and health, children and development - the book also features Mandela's own tributes to South African heroes such as Steve Biko, Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu.

We've found them really great for getting second hand books, as well as first hand books.

Go on over and take a look.

Don't just read about him - go and visit Robben Island!

More importantly, go to Cape Town, see where this wonderful man spent so many years and find out how the Mother City is fairing 10 years on.