NELSON MANDELA SUCCESS STORY

Nelson Mgadia Mandela, right from his school days has displayed that strong resilient spirit of a human right activist. Born on July 18, 1918, Mandela participated in a school strike and was expelled. He helped found the ANC Youth League whose programme of action was adopted by the ANC in 1949. He was elected National Volunteer-in Chief of the 1952 Defiance Campaign. He traveled the country of South Africa organizing resistance to discriminatory legislation.

            As Deputy National President to the ANC, Mandela, together with his friend, Tambo, in the year 1952 opened the first black firm the country. He was being petitioned and forced, through constant banning to resign officially from the ANC, notwithstanding the Bantustan policy as a political swindle.

            Mandela predicted mass removal, political persecution and police terror. When Nelson Mandela left his home country for military training in Algeria, he was arrested on his return for leaving the country illegally and incitement to strike. He conducted his own defense. He was convicted and jailed for five years in November 1962. While, serving his sentence, he was served with sabotage and sentence to life imprisonments.

            A victim of various forms of violence and repression, Mandela was a community activist. Even in prison Mandela never compromised his political principles and was always a source of strength for the other prisoners. After his release in February 11 1990, Mandela and his delegation, in delight of this finally agreed to the suspension of arm struggle. However, he said “The struggles of my life are not to be taken lightly”. Importantly, the revolutionary and quintessential freedom fighter has won honorary degree from more than 50 international universities and is the chancellor of the first democratically elected state president of South Africa on May 10, 1994- June 1999.

            A visionary leader and a model worthy of emulation, Nelson Mandela retired from public life in June 1999. He currently resides at his birth place Qunu, Transkei. However, he is still leading the fight against apartheid with extraordinary vigor and resilient after spending nearly three decades of his life behind bars. This great achieve has sacrificed his youth and private life for his people and today, remain South Africa’s cherished and best known hero. Wow! What a great feat! This is what we call the prize of greatness “responsibility”.