Who is mandelas father

In August, Mandela travelled to countries in South America. This agreement between a number of political organisations, including the ANC, Inkatha Freedom Party and the National Party , established structures and procedures to attempt to end political violence which had become widespread. In October , a meeting of the Patriotic Front was held in Durban in an attempt to bring together all the anti-apartheid groupings in the country.

However, the PAC could not see its way clear to participate in the convention due to its belief that the convention should be held outside the country under the stewardship of a neutral party. The first meeting of Codesa, set up to negotiate procedures for constitutional change, was held in December At the end of the plenary session, after De Klerk had raised the question of disbanding Umkhonto we Sizwe , Mandela delivered a scathing personal attack on him. Mandela argued that even the head of an illegitimate and discredited minority regime should have certain moral standards.

During , Mandela continued his programme of extensive international travel, visiting Tunisia, Libya and Morocco. On 13 April , Mandela called a press conference at which he announced that he and his wife, Winnie , had agreed to separate as a result of differences which had arisen between them in recent months. Permission: Africamediaonline. In May , the second plenary meeting of Codesa was held, but the working group dealing with constitutional arrangements reached a deadlock when the ANC and the government could not reach agreement on certain constitutional principles.

Codesa's management committee was asked to find a way out of the logjam but by 16 June by then known as Soweto Day no progress had been made and the ANC called for a mass action campaign to put pressure on the South African government.

While visiting the Scandinavian countries and Czechoslovakia in May, Mandela suggested that FW de Klerk was personally responsible for the political violence in South Africa. Mandela also criticised what he felt was the stranglehold imposed on the South African press, which represented White-owned conglomerates; however, he expressed support for a critical, independent and investigative press.

Mandela asked the UN to provide continuous monitoring of the violence and submitted documents, which he claimed, proved the 'criminal intent' of the government, both in the instigation of violence and in failing to curb it. He maintained that the government was conducting a 'cold-hearted strategy of state terror to impose its will on negotiations'. On his return to South Africa, Mandela called for disciplined and peaceful protest and involved himself in the ANC's mass action campaign.

Following violent incidents between ANC supporters in the Transvaal, Mandela admitted that the organisation had disciplinary problems with some of its followers, particularly in township Self-Defence Units and promised to take action against those who abused their positions of power and authority. Mandela indicated in September that he was prepared to meet De Klerk on condition that he agreed to fence off township hostels, ban the public display of dangerous weapons and release political prisoners.

They met at the end of the month and these bi-lateral talks resulted in the signing of a Record of Understanding between the two leaders, thereby enabling negotiations to resume. During and Mandela repeatedly called for peace. At a rally in Soweto's Jabulani Stadium he was booed by a militant crowd when he tried to convey a message of peace in the wake of the killing.

Mandela caused a political row in May when he suggested that South Africa's voting age should be lowered to enable 14 year old children to vote. However, he was persuaded to accept that only people aged 18 and above could vote in the April elections.

In September , after the election date had been set for April , Mandela used a visit to the United States of America to urge world business leaders to lift economic sanctions and invest in South Africa. During the latter half of and early he campaigned on behalf of the ANC for the election and addressed a large number of rallies and people's forums.

At the same time, he continued his efforts to draw the Freedom Alliance partners White right wing groups, IFP, Bophuthatswana and Ciskei Bantustan governments into the election process. However, he ruled out the possibility of delaying the election date to accommodate them. In March , following a civil uprising in the homeland of Bophuthatswana, which led to the downfall of the Mangope government, Mandela guaranteed striking civil servants their jobs, but harshly criticised the looting that had occurred during the unrest.

The meeting was unsuccessful and was followed by an attempt at international mediation. This, too, failed, but a final effort by Kenyan academic, Washington Okumu, brought the IFP back into the election process. Mandela and De Klerk then signed an agreement stating that the institution, status and role of the King of the Zulus, as well as the Kingdom of KwaZulu, be recognised and protected.

Mandela contested the April election as the head of the ANC. He cast his vote in Inanda, Durban, on the first day of voting on 27 April Mandela indicated his relief that the ANC did not achieve a two-thirds majority, as this would allay fears that it would unilaterally re-write the constitution. He restated his commitment to a government of national unity wherein each party shared in the exercise of power.

Nelson Mandela casts his vote for the first time in April Photographer: Paul Weinberg, Permission: Africamediaonline. On 9 May, Mandela was elected unopposed as president of South Africa in the first session of the Constituent Assembly.

His presidential inauguration took place the next day at the Union Buildings in Pretoria and was attended by the largest gathering of international leaders in South African history, as well as about jubilant supporters on the lawns. The ceremony was televised and broadcast internationally. In his inaugural speech Mandela called for a 'time of healing' and stated that his government would fight against discrimination of any kind. He pledged to enter into a covenant to build a society in which all South Africans, Black and White, could walk tall without fear, assured of their rights to human dignity, 'a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world'.

This policy focused on basic needs such as jobs, land, housing, water, electricity, telecommunications and transport, among others. Furthermore, this policy emphasised that the people should be part of the decision making process. His pragmatic economic policy was welcomed by business in general. Mandela continued to draw the White right wing into the negotiation process and in May, held a breakthrough meeting with the leader of the Conservative Party CP , Ferdie Hartzenberg.

Negotiations also involved a possible meeting with Eugene Terre Blanche , leader of the right wing Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging AWB , but it did not transpire. The following month he held talks with his Angolan, Mozambican and Zairean counterparts in an attempt to further peace-making efforts in Angola. Mandela underwent eye surgery for a cataract in July.

The operation was complicated by the fact that his tear glands had been damaged by the alkalinity of the stone at Robben Island where he had done hard labour breaking rocks.

In September , Mandela made a crucial speech at the annual conference of the Congress of South African Trade Unions Cosatu where he called on the labour movement to transform itself from a liberation movement to one that would assist in the building of a new South Africa. The government of national unity nearly collapsed in January over an alleged secret attempt by two former cabinet ministers and 3 police to obtain indemnity on the eve of the April elections. At a cabinet meeting on 18 January, Mandela attacked Deputy President De Klerk, stating that he did not believe De Klerk was unaware of the indemnity applications.

He went on to question De Klerk's commitment to reconciliation. At a press conference on 20 January, De Klerk maintained that this attack on his integrity and good faith could seriously jeopardise the future of the government of national unity. In April , Mandela removed his estranged wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, as Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, following a series of controversial issues in which she was involved.

She challenged her dismissal in the Supreme Court, claiming that it was unconstitutional. She obtained an affidavit from IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi to the effect that he had not, as a leader of a party in the government of national unity, been consulted about her dismissal. This was a constitutional requirement.

Winnie Mandela was then briefly reinstated before being dismissed again, Mandela having consulted with all party leaders involved in the government. Mandela and Madikizela-Mandela would divorce in due to political differences and the tension which she was causing within the ANC.

In May , following a dispute between the IFP and the ANC regarding international mediation for the new constitution, Buthelezi called on Zulus to 'rise and resist' any imposed constitutional dispensation. Mandela accused Buthelezi of encouraging violence and attempting to foment an uprising against central government. In this context, Mandela threatened to cut off central government funding to KwaZulu-Natal, indicating that he would not allow public funds to be used to finance an attempt to overthrow the constitution by violent means.

South Africa had recently been allowed to compete in international events after the dissolution of apartheid. Mandela saw this tournament as an opportunity to unite the country and diffuse the racial tensions which had built up before the elections. The South African national rugby team nicknamed the Springboks won the tournament, and in an iconic moment, Mandela presented the trophy to the captain of the team, Francois Pienaar, while wearing a Springbok jersey.

On his eightieth birthday on 18 July , he married his third wife, Graca Machel. Machel, at the time, was the widow of Mozambican president, Samora Machel. Retirement from political life. Mandela retired from active political life in June after his first term of office as president.

Mandela continued to play an active role in mediating conflicts around the world. For instance, in he was appointed mediator in the war-torn, Burundi, a mission he accomplished with aplomb. President Mandela retired from active political life in June In , he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

He devoted a large amount of his time to raising funds for the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. This concert would be the first of six international concerts of the same name that took place between and Evelyn Mase passed away on 4 April, and Mandela cut short his overseas trip to attend her funeral. On 10 May , Mandela addressed a joint-sitting of parliament in celebrating a decade of democracy in which he acknowledged the extraordinary position he was in, being allowed to address Parliament despite not being an MP or sitting leader.

According to him, it would be a fitting present for the 10 years of democracy. On 15 May , he was in Zurich, Switzerland when South Africa was awarded the right to host the soccer showpiece.

Mandela cried openly at the achievement. He said he felt like a year-old boy and the memory would live with him forever. Though retired from public life, Mandela carried the Olympic torch on Robben Island on 14 June on its first journey on African soil since the inception of the Olympic Games.

Mandela was the recipient of numerous awards and honours both within South Africa and abroad. In line with his desire to recede from the political limelight, the unending invitations to receive more awards and honours prompted him to publicly urge that other leaders in the struggle to liberate and democratise South Africa should be recognised and honoured as he had been.

His 88th birthday celebrations on 18 July, kicked off with a new round of honours, including a photo exhibit and the release of a book called The Meaning of Mandela during the week before his birthday. The event was meant to be part of a series of three, which the Nelson Mandela Foundation would be conducting to celebrate Mandela's birthday, according to Jakes Gerwel , chairman of the foundation's board.

The photo exhibition by South African veterans Alf Khumalo and Jurgen Schadeberg capture Mandela's years as a young lawyer and the emergence of Black resistance before he was jailed for 27 years in and includes photographs of his family.

Events to celebrate the birthday of the ageing statesman that year also included a ceremony to present him and fellow graduates of Fort Hare University with honorary rings, as well as the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, to be delivered by South African President Thabo Mbeki. However, he also spent some quiet time with his family. Although he retired from active politics and cut down on functions, Mandela still continued to do charitable work.

As part of his 89th birthday in , Mandela established The Elders, a group of 12 eminent leaders chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu , who aim to use their wisdom to tackle global problems. Archbishop Tutu and Graca Machel were integral with regards to the founding of this organisation and are still associated with The Elders as of This is the first time that the United Nations UN has designated a day dedicated to a person. The UN also asked the people of the world to set aside 67 minutes of their day to undertake a task that would contribute to bringing joy or relief to the millions of disadvantaged and vulnerable people of the world.

She was buried on 17 June. At the beginning of January , Mandela was checked into Milpark Hospital with acute respiratory difficulties but returned home on 28 January. Mandela soon moved back to his home in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape.

The archive digitises photographs, recordings and documents related to Mandela and make them available online. Throughout and , rumours abounded about Mandela's failing health until the nation's worst fears were confirmed on 5 December, Mandela had passed away in Houghton Estate in Johannesburg.

His memorial service was held 15 December in the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg and was attended by 91 sitting heads of state and a number of other dignitaries. Mandela is survived by a daughter from his first marriage to Evelyn Ntoko Mase. Mandela is also survived by two daughters with his second wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

From these children, he is survived by 18 grandchildren. Anon Unknown. Nelson Mandela Quotes. Accessed on 5 June Anon unknown. Quotes: Nelson Mandela. Available at www. Accessed on 5 July Gastrow, S.

Carter, G. First, R. Mandela's 'intuitive' letter that unravelled a plot to murder him. Education In , at 16 years old, Mandela went to initiation school to undergo ulwaluko , a traditional ceremony that whereby young boys transition into manhood For more information on this ceremony, click here.

The move to Johannesburg The Regent had also made arrangements for his son Justice and Mandela to marry two young women chosen by the Regent. Political campaigns Mandela burns his passbook in an act of Defiance against apartheid pass laws. This is evidenced by the following quote from an interview with Richard Stengel from the s: The Chief [Albert Luthuli] was a passionate disciple of Mahatma Gandhi and he believed in non-violence as a Christian and as a principle.

Source: Pretoria News Library Mandela and some of his colleagues concluded that violent resistance in South Africa was inevitable and that it was unreasonable for African leaders to continue with their policy of non-violent protest when the government met their demands with force. Imprisonment on Robben Island On 12 June all the accused were sentenced to life imprisonment and held at Pretoria Central prison. Source: The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory In the s, prisoners were allowed to keep a vegetable garden after years of petitioning the authorities.

Source: Getty Images On 2 February , State President FW de Klerk, in his opening speech in parliament, announced the unbanning of the ANC and all other proscribed political parties, and the release of Mandela and all other political prisoners. Permission: Africamediaonline In May , the second plenary meeting of Codesa was held, but the working group dealing with constitutional arrangements reached a deadlock when the ANC and the government could not reach agreement on certain constitutional principles.

Retirement from political life Mandela retired from active political life in June after his first term of office as president. President Mandela and his wife Grace Machel wave to people during the closing ceremony of the World Cup at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg, Photographer: Michael Kooren , Image Source At the beginning of January , Mandela was checked into Milpark Hospital with acute respiratory difficulties but returned home on 28 January.

Accessed on 5 June Anon unknown. Accessed on 5 July Gastrow, S. Sampson, A He was married first and foremost to the movement—to the liberation of his people from the vicious, stifling bondage of a white minority who saw themselves as superior, who forcibly removed blacks and other people of color to isolated townships that often lacked running water and indoor plumbing, and which the regime could easily encircle in case of trouble.

My devotion to the ANC and the struggle was unremitting. This disturbed Evelyn …. I patiently explained to her that politics was not a distraction but my lifework, that it was an essential and fundamental part of my being. The aftermath of the separation from Evelyn was not pleasant. Soon, however, Mandela, by then a young, successful lawyer, met and married a beautiful social worker named Nomzamo Winfreda Madikizela.

She rarely saw her husband. Mandela even remained outside, in the car, when a comrade came into their house and asked Winnie to pack some clothes for him, because he was going away, to an unspecified place, for an unspecified amount of time. It was almost three decades. Knowing Mandela meant getting used to his absences. Men like Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo and Gaur Radebe got him involved in his first public demonstration, a bus boycott in the Alexandra township; others provided his first introduction to the African National Congress.

He rapidly became one of its leaders, organizing peaceful protests. All this extracurricular activity meant that it took Mandela longer than usual—about seven years—to qualify as an attorney. He finally managed it, just as the white-controlled government introduced the apartheid system, in In , Mandela opened the first black law firm in Johannesburg with Tambo, defending mostly poor black people—for little or no money—who would, no doubt, not have had legal representation otherwise; and, for the first time, he got to know Indian South Africans, who were also victims of the system, as well as whites, although for a time he was distant from both.

And he continued his work for the A. On March 21, , police opened fire on a group of black South Africans who were peacefully protesting laws requiring blacks to carry passes that restricted their movement.

The police killed sixty-nine people, in what became known as the Sharpeville massacre. Shortly afterward, the regime declared a state of emergency and banned the A.

Already facing treason charges, he went underground as a leader of the A. Dressed in different disguises—a gardener, a chef, a soldier—he popped up around the country, and then disappeared again.

His exploits earned him a nickname: the Black Pimpernel. I have had to separate myself from my dear wife and children, from my mother and sisters, to live as an outlaw in my own land. I have had to close my business, to abandon my profession, and live in poverty and misery, as many of my people are doing. He was posing as a chauffeur when he was finally caught and arrested thanks, it is widely believed, to information that the C.

He was first married to Evelyn Ntoko Mase in They separated in and divorced in She died in They had two daughters and two sons.

Their baby daughter, Makaziwe, died at the age of nine months. Their eldest son, Madiba Thembekile Thembi , was killed at the age of 24 in a car accident in while Mr Mandela was in prison. He was not allowed to attend the funeral.

In March Mr Mandela and his wife divorced. They had two daughters, Zenani and Zindziswa. They divorced in On his 80 th birthday in Mr Mandela married Graca Machel, who brought two children and two step-children into the marriage. Apartheid was the official policy of the National Party, which became the governing party of South Africa in Apartheid, which means "separateness", was the practice of official racial segregation in every aspect of life.

Under apartheid, everyone in South Africa had to be classified according to a particular racial group. This classification determined where someone could be born, where they could live, where they could go to school, where they could work, where they could be treated if they were sick and where they could be buried if they died.

Only white people could vote and they had the best opportunities and the most money was spent on their facilities. Apartheid made others live in poverty. Black South Africans' lives were strictly controlled.

Many thousands of people died in the struggle to end apartheid. Mr Mandela's vision during the apartheid era was for the eradication of racism and for the establishment of a constitutional democracy.

He envisioned a South Africa in which all its citizens had equal rights and where every adult would have the right to vote for the government of his or her choice. Mr Mandela was driven by an unshakeable belief in the equality of all people and his determination to overthrow the system of apartheid in South Africa.

He helped to organise and to lead many peaceful campaigns, but after violent disruptions by the state and its outlawing of the opposition organisations, it became clear to him and his comrades that peaceful protest was impossible. In they decided to turn to an armed struggle and established Umkhonto weSizwe Spear of the Nation — also known as MK — as an army for freedom fighters. He also helped in to establish Umkhonto weSizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress and was its first Commander-in-Chief.

In after he stepped down as President he started the Nelson Mandela Foundation as a post-presidential office and charity to assist in various causes. In he founded the Mandela Rhodes Foundation to assist postgraduate students from throughout Africa to further their studies.