A Biography of Nelson Mandela

By Harry Bird

“The struggle is my life”

Childhood – Growing Up:

Nelson Mandela was born 18^th July 1918 in Mvezo, a tiny village on the banks of the Mbashe River in South Africa. He was born Rolihlahla Mandela; his name only changed to Nelson on his first day of school where it was a policy there that all black children be given white names. Rolihlahla is literally translated as ‘pulling the branch of tree’, which is a metaphor for ‘troublemaker’.

Mandela was born into a royal line amongst his clan. His father was an advisor to the king. While still an infant though, his father was involved in a dispute which cost him and his family their fortune and their title; he challenged the authority of one of the magistrates over a tribal matter which in their clan was considered the height of insolence. They then simply deposed him which essentially ended the Mandela chieftainship. Mandela says in his auto-biography, ‘The Long Walk to Freedom’, that he saw a sense of stubbornness and rebelliousness in his father which he still sees in himself. This could possibly have been Mandela’s first influence to stand up for what he believes in and rebel against what he feels is unjust.

His father died when he was 9. Him and his mother then left Qunu and went to Mqhekezweni; the capital of Thembuland. The acting regent of the Thembu people at the time, Jongintaba, offered to become his guardian, which his mother agreed upon. The regent had universal respect from all members of the clan and through witnessing the regent and his court discuss political matters, it greatly influenced Mandela’s notions of leadership. In Mandela’s auto-biography he says that when in the court, no matter who you were, you could speak. Everyone’s opinion was heard and taken into account. It was ‘democracy in its purest form’. I believe this influenced Mandela’s political ideals in regards to how everyone, regardless of class and race, should be treated equally within the community.

After turning 16, he had his circumcision. This was to signify his entry into manhood in his culture and Mandela says it was a proud moment. However, during the chieftain’s speech after Nelson had completed his ordeal he brings up the suppression of black people in South Africa, their lack of independence and how their land was stolen away from them. This speech had a significant influence on Mandela and I quote from his auto-biography:

“Without exactly understanding why, his words began to work on me. He had sown a seed, and though I let that seed lie dormant for a long season, it eventually began to grow.”

Education:

After completing secondary school at the Clarkebury Institute at 16 and the Wesleyan College at 19, he enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare. It was here he met one man who became his lifelong friend and ally in the fight against the apartheid; Oliver Tambo.

Upon returning home from Fort Hare, he had discovered that the regent had arranged a marriage for him. After hearing his he fled to Johannesburg where he received a job as mine policeman at a gold mine. At the time Johannesburg was regarded as a ‘gold city’ and Mandela expected upper-class, government offices, but the Crown Mine offices were nothing more than mere shacks. He later discovered that the only reason why the gold industry was booming was due to the cheap black African labour. This, he says, was his first taste of the ‘true’ capitalism in South Africa.

While completing his Bachelor of Arts degree, a white lawyer took Mandela on as his article clerk. During that time it was unheard of that a white man would give a black man such a job. There he befriended Gaur Radebe who he shared an office with. Gaur was a member of the ANC (African National Congress) and the Communist party, and in 1943 Mandela took part in his first protest with them. He took part along with 10,000 others in protest against the raise of bus fares from 4 to 5 pence for blacks. It proved effective 9 days later. Mandela found his first protest exhilarating and inspiring, seeing the effectiveness of Gandhi’s method of non-violent resistance in action. This is probably what first inspired Mandela, showing him there was something he could do to fight for what he believed in.

Throughout his time growing up he lived in many different places and as a result, Mandela witnessed many different things; namely the mistreatment of black Africans in South Africa first hand on almost a daily basis. These little things he saw in his youth as a whole, all influenced him to take the actions he did in his political career to free South Africa from the apartheid government.

The ANC:

After the white African apartheid government came into power in 1948, Mandela became an even more active member in the ANC. The ANC were a group, mainly consisted of black members that strongly opposed the policy of apartheid imposed by the now in power National Party government. Apartheid was a form of racial segregation in South Africa in which members of society and visitors to the country were divided into racial classes, (White, Black, Indian and Coloured) and were given rights accordingly. In regards to this, black Africans were given the least amount of rights; they were stripped of their freedom to travel, were denied voting rights for some time and were forced to live in different townships. Mandela joined the ANC after his first protest and it marked what was the start of the struggle that he famously said, is his life.

Mandela has a long list of many various achievements and programs that he achieved and participated in while a member of the ANC. With almost all of his approaches he used to combat the apartheid government, he drew inspiration from Gandhi’s work in South Africa before him. Mandela agreed with the morals associated with Gandhi’s method of non-violent resistance, the idea that peaceful negotiations were the best solution to achieve peace and fairness for everyone. He led numerous protests and organized many various strike days, most of which unfortunately brought forward a new legal case pushed forward by the government. They constantly claimed that by promoting equality for all, they were promoting communist ideals which were forbidden by the Suppression of Communist Act. As a result, Mandela was trialed for high treason.

Sharpeville Massacre:

Mandela’s non-violent protests and strike organisations were often met by brutal retaliation by authorities; and massacres sometimes ensued. Although the details of exactly what happened at this massacre are in dispute, the protesters were unarmed and 69 people were killed, 8 of them women and 10 of them children.

Pass laws had been in effect since 1923; these laws restricted the movement of black Africans through ‘white areas’. In protest, on March 21 1960, those who participated left their passes at home and did not go to work on that day and instead gathered together in Sharpeville. Then without warning, policemen stood in a line and began firing on the 20 000 strong crowd. The crowd had supposedly begun to stone the police officers, but this was later proved untrue. As soon as the news was heard, riots and protests immediately ensued around the country.

The Sharpeville massacre led to the banning of the ANC and other similar groups. Being a member was illegal and Mandela was now an outlaw. Both the massacre and the banning were a catalyst for Mandela to form a militant wing for the now forced underground and illegal ANC; Umkhonto we Sizwe, MK for short. He says in his auto-biography that this was most definitely not the course of action he wished to take, but if the government wished to respond to his peaceful attempts at negotiation with such violence, he had no choice but to shift from non-violent resistance to armed-resistance.

Umkhonto we Sizwe:

Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation) or MK for short, is the militant wing of the ANC which was in part, formed by Mandela. It was formed in co-operation with the Communist Party in order to fight the South African apartheid government. The group was headquartered in Rivonia and was formed in response to the Sharpeville Massacre and the following banning of the ANC. Their views were that the times had changed, and the previous methods of non-violent resistance obviously weren’t working after a run of previously failed efforts. The original intention of the group was not to engage in civil war, but merely sabotage certain government activities in order to do things such as weaken the economy etc. with minimal loss of human life in order to still abide by Mandela’s and the ANC core principles of non-violent approaches. The MK is described as ‘the fighting arm of the people against the government and its policies of race oppression’.

Between December 1961 and July 1963 over 200 sabotage operations were undertook by the MK and they were all carried out in such a way to minimize the loss of human life. Throughout this time, recruits were dispatched to receive military training overseas which in turn, increased awareness of the ANC’s cause in South Africa internationally and receive aid in the fight against the South African apartheid government. MK was then labeled as a terrorist group.

In July 1963, police raided MK headquarters in Rivonia at Lilliesleaf Farm and found almost the entire leadership of the MK studying a planned proposal for guerilla warfare. They were all immediately arrested; Mandela, who was already serving a 5 year jail term for leaving the country without a passport, and the other leaders of MK who weren’t present were also charged. They were then trialed for 223 accounts of sabotage which is known as the infamous Rivonia Trail.

Rivonia Trial and Imprisonment:

The Rivonia Trial is the infamous trial where Nelson Mandela and the other leaders of MK were trialed for 223 different cases of sabotage which took place between 1963 and 1964. In this trial, Mandela was found guilty of 4 different acts of sabotage and was sentenced to life imprisonment, like almost all the others involved in this trial, and as a result spent nearly 30 years as a political prisoner on Robben Island. It is during this trial that Mandela made his famous ‘I am Prepared to Die’ speech, which many cite as a pivotal moment in history. Mandela’s speech was reproduced in nearly every important newspaper in the world and is a true symbol of what he himself, and the ANC, believe in and a symbol of the struggle for freedom and democracy for all. Here is the final paragraph of that speech:

“During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

The original sentence that was called upon was the death penalty for all accused, but after worldwide riots and protests, it was later changed to life imprisonment. This is a prominent example of Mandela’s iconic status in South Africa amongst black Africans and really highlights the influence he had upon the world in regards to bringing international attention to the apartheid government in South Africa.

Mandela then spent nearly 30 years in gaol on Robben Island as a political prisoner. He was ranked in class D which was the lowest rank a prisoner could have there. This again, essentially meant he received the least amount of rights and privileges. For example he could only receive one heavily censored letter every six months and was permitted only one visitor every six months also.

In 1985 the president of South Africa at the time, P. W. Botha, offered Mandela his ‘freedom’ in return for the renouncing of a return to armed struggle. He responded by saying;

"What freedom am I being offered while the organisation of the people remains banned? Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts.”

This quote highlights his strong will and selfless inspiring devotion to the cause for which he was put in gaol for.

While imprisoned, both national and international pressure was placed on the South African government to release Mandela, presented simply via slogan, ‘Free Nelson Mandela!’. A while later, Botha suffered a stroke and Frederick Willem De Klerk took over as president. Mandela was shortly released in 1990, a historical moment in history which was broadcast live on television all over the world. De Klerk then removed the ban on all organizations, including MK and the ANC, and Mandela became the president of the ANC.

Presidency:

After his release, negotiations with De Klerk were made to end apartheid in South Africa and have South Africa’s very first multi-racial election. Both Mandela and De Klerk received a joint Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their actions. The election was held on 27 April, 1994. The ANC won over 60% of the votes and Nelson Mandela became the very first black president of South Africa. During his time as president until 1999, he made the transition from the apartheid policies put in place by the National Party to a nation free from racial discrimination and was praised worldwide for his tremendous efforts.

Legacy:

Nelson Mandela had what many would consider an extremely fulfilling life. He was the first black president of South Africa, was president of the ANC and was at the forefront of the anti-apartheid movement. He is essentially responsible for the way South Africa is today; a nation where people of all races are equal and had freedom. Having spent almost 30 years in gaol as a political prisoner, standing up for what he believed in, he brought international attention to apartheid in South Africa and inspired people world wide. He is a widely recognized symbol of peace, unity, democracy and human rights and throughout his years as member of the ANC he has selflessly devoted his life to freeing his people. He is an important pivotal figure in the history of South Africa; he was a leader and a symbol of hope for all black people suffering under apartheid. He managed to revolutionize a nation of people, change their entire mindset and challenge ideals which seemed set in concrete at the time, and that’s something I believe not many will be able to achieve again, something I found truly inspiring.

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Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela: – Visited Aug 4 08

(http://www.soweto.co.za/html/p_mandela.htm)

Sharpeville Massacre: – The Origin of South Africa’s Human Rights Day: – Visited Aug 4 08

(http://africanhistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa-SharpevilleMassacre-a.htm)

History of MK: – Visited Aug 4 08

http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/governence-projects/organisations/MK/formation.htm

The Rivonia Trial and Lilliesleaf Farm: – Visited Aug 4 08

http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/governence-projects/rivonia-liliesleaf/rivonia-trial.htm

MANDELA (1994) The Illustrated Long Walk to Freedom, Little, Brown