February 11, 1990 : Nelson Mandela Released

 “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader, who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country’s first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by tackling institutionalized racism and fostering racial reconciliation. Ideologically an African nationalist and socialist, he served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) party from 1991 to 1997.  Although initially committed to non-violent protest, in association with the SACP he co-founded the militant Umkhonto we Sizwe in 1961 and led a sabotage campaign against the government. In 1962, he was arrested for conspiring to overthrow the state and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial. Mandela served 27 years hard labor in prison on Robben Island. Amid growing domestic and international pressure, and with fears of a racial civil war, President F. W. de Klerk released him on this day in 1990.

F W De Klerk and Nelson Mandela

Mandela and de Klerk negotiated an end to apartheid and organised the 1994 multiracial general election in which Mandela led the ANC to victory and became President. After suffering from a prolonged respiratory infection, Mandela died on 5 December 2013 at the age of 95. President Zuma publicly announced his death on television, proclaiming ten days of national mourning, a memorial service held at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium on 10 December 2013, and 8 December as a national day of prayer and reflection. Approximately 90 representatives of foreign states traveled to South Africa to attend memorial events. Over the course of his life, Mandela was given over 250 awards, accolades, prizes, honorary degrees and citizenships in recognition of his political achievements. Among his awards were the Nobel Peace Prize and the US Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Advertisement

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*