Nelson Mandela 1918 – 2013

Dec 05, 2013

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on the 18th of July 1918 and served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison. Mandela served 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island near Cape Town. Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela led his party in the negotiations that led to multi-racial democracy in 1994. As president from 1994 to 1999, he frequently gave priority to reconciliation. In 1993 he won the Nobel Peace Prize and he has won many prizes for his contribution to humanitarian issues since. May he Rest In Peace

101. President Nelson Mandela will celebrate his 80th birthday on July 18. Events planned around the country are due to run for at least a month and include celebratory parties for underpriveleged children, as well as concerts featuring local and international artists.

202. A 1961 photo of Nelson Mandela, leader of the African National Congress, has been in jail for 23 years. President Botha of South Africa announced that Mandela would not be released, 1985. REUTERS

303. A copy of a combo picture showing Rivonia trialists with their names written by hand is seen on the wall in Maybuye Center in Cape Town March 10, 2005. From L to R on the top row are Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Gowan Mbeki and Raymond Mhlaba and on the bottom row are Elias Motsoaledi, Andrew Mlangeni, Ahmed Kathrada adn Dennis Goldberg. REUTERS/Radu Sigheti

404. A young Nelson Mandela, imprisoned leader of the African National Congress, pictured in the early 60's before he was sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage. He was sentenced in June 1964 during the famous Rivonia trials. REUTERS

505. Black youth hold up a placecard of jailed nationalist leader Nelson Mandela at a mass meeting at Zwide township near Port Elizabeth today. The meeting was arranged by church leaders to call for a withdrawl of troops from the black township. REUTERS

606. A poster calling for Nelson Mandela's release is seen in this photo taken on February 25, 2005. REUTERS/Radu Sigheti

707. A poster of Nelson Mandela is seen in this photo taken on February 25, 2005. REUTERS/Radu Sigheti

808. A supporter of Winnie Mandela, wife of African National Congress (ANC) deputy president Nelson Mandela, holds up a poster with a message of loyalty in Johannesburg February 12, 1991 outside the court where Mrs. Mandela is being tried on kidnapping and assault charges. REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya

909. African National Congress leaders Nelson Mandela (L) and Oliver Tambo meet for the first time after 28 years on March 12, 1990, at the beginning of a week-long visit of Mr. Mandela to Sweden. REUTERS/Anders Holmstroem

1010. A photo taken, March 10, 2005 in the Nelson Mandela museum in his former house in Soweto, shows a page of the handwritten diary that Mandela kept during his imprisonment on Robben island. He used the same format of diary even after his release. REUTERS/Radu Sigheti

1111. President Nelson Mandela is accompanied by his former wife Winnie, moments after his release from prison February 11 1990 after serving 27 years in jail. Mandela celebrates his 80th birthday on July 18. Events planned around the country are due to run for at least a month and include celebratory parties for underpriveleged children, as well as concerts featuring local and international artists.

1212. Nelson Mandela raises his fist to the crowd in Port Elizabeth, April 1, 1990. REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya

1313. Nelson Mandela raises his fist as he walks on stage at Wembley Arena in London April 16, 1990. Mandela topped the bill at a rock concert in his honor. The sell-out concert was beamed live by satellite to about a dozen countries

1414. South African President Nelson Mandela gestures during his state of the nation address at the opening of Parliament in Cape Town February 7. Mandela concentrated on crime and the economy, the country's two major problems after nearly three years of democracy.

1515. Former South African president Nelson Mandela smiles as he is helped to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy that was presented to him by the Springboks at the Mandela foundation in Houghton October 27, 2007. The Springboks earlier toured Soweto during their nationwide World Cup victory parade after an outcry over a decision to bypass the country's biggest township. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

1616. Former President Nelson Mandela greets recipients of the 2008 Mandela Rhodes scholarship at his offices in Johannesburg March 4, 2008. Mandela celebrates his 90th birthday on July 18. REUTERS/Antony Kaminju

1717. A statue of Nelson Mandela stands outside the gates of Drakenstein Correctional Centre (formerly Victor Verster Prison), near Paarl in Western Cape province February 10, 2010. Mandela's release from the prison on Feb. 11, 1990, after 27 years in apartheid-era jails, set in motion the country's transformation to democracy which culminated in historic all-race elections in 1994 and his inauguration as the country's first black leader. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

1818. A damaged poster of African National Congress President Nelson Mandela is carried past a South African policeman, 21 April, 1994 in Inkatha Freedom Party controlled Lindelani Township outside Durban. Police were called in after supporters of opposition parties harrassed each other whilst erecting election posters. REUTERS/ John Woodroof

1919. Former South African President Nelson Mandela hugs his great granddaughter Zenani Mandela in Diepkloof, Soweto in this December 7, 2008 handout picture. Zenani Mandela, 13, was killed in a car crash on June 11, 2010 after leaving a concert ahead of the World Cup kick off, the Nelson Mandela Foundation said. Picture taken December 7, 2008. REUTERS/Nelson Mandela Foundation/Handout

2020. Former South African President Nelson Mandela waves to the crowd at Soccer City stadium during the closing ceremony for the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg July 11, 2010. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

2121. President-elect Nelson Mandela (C) and archbishop Desmond Tutu (R) arrive in a football stadium to take part in an open-air service for the country's Christian community, in the township of Soweto, south west of Johannesburg, May 8, 1994. Mandela is to be sworn in as the first black president of South Africa on May 10. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan

2222. SAFRICA ELECTIONS

2323. South African President Nelson Mandela dances at the start of the fifth Congress of South Afrian Trade Unions (COSATU) national congress in the township of Soweto, southwest of Johannesburg, September 7, 1994. REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya

2424. Nelson Mandela laughs with journalists and performers participating in the second 46664 concert near the small Southern Cape province town of George. Nelson Mandela laughs with journalists and performers participating in the second 46664 concert near the small Southern Cape province town of George, March 18, 2005. Annie Lennox, Queen with Paul Rodgers, Katie Melua and India Arie are included in the line-up for the concert on Saturday, March 19. 46664 is an AIDS awareness campaign that takes it's name from Mandela's prison number during his 27 year incarceration. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

2525. Irish rock star Bono (R) and Former South African President Nelson Mandela pose after they met at Mandela's resident at Houghton in Johannesburg May 25, 2002. U.S.Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Bono are on a three-day visit to South Africa during a four nation African tour. REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya

2727. Nelson Mandela sits beneath the window of his prison cell on Robben Island near Cape Town, November 28, 2003. Mandela visited the island with a host of stars who are to perform at the 46664 Aids benefit concert on November 29. 46664 refers to the prison number allocated to Mandela during his long incarceration on the Island. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

2828. Former South African President Nelson Mandela (L) and U.S. civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson (R) address a news conference in Johannesburg, October 26, 2005. Jackson, who is on a short visit to the country, said the two leaders had discussed the problems of Aids and investment in South Africa. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

2929. President Nelson Mandela (L) and the world's most famous footballer Pele smile for photographers at Union Buildings March 24. Pele, who is the Brazilian Minister of Sport, is in the country to organise a visit by the Brazilian World Cup team. REUTERS/ Juda Ngwenya

3030. A child looks at a man adorned with a tattoo of former President Nelson Mandela during celebrations of Mandela's 91st birthday in Cape Town, July 18, 2009. Mandela, an international icon and former South African president, led the country out of apartheid in 1994. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

3131. Nelson Mandela appears in a previously taped video during the Mandela Day concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York July 18, 2009. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

3232. African National Congress (ANC) leader Nelson Mandela arrives at the University of Venda during his election campaign tour of the area March 8, 1994. Mandela is on a nationwide tour as a prelude to the forthcoming non-racial elections in the country in April. REUTERS/Patrick de Noirmont

3333. Former South African President Nelson Mandela wears a cap presented by the cast of the Oscar winning Tsotsi at his home in Cape Town March 16, 2006. Tsotsi won for Best Foreign Film and is the first South African film to receive the award. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

3434. Former South African President Nelson Mandela (C) poses with former rebel leader Pierre Nkurunziza (L), President Domitien Ndayizeye,(2L) Dr Jean Minani speaker of Burundi parliament (2R) and South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma (R) in Pretoria, July 21, 2004. Mandela joined the Burundi peace talks in Pretoria on Wednesday to offer his support but the Nobel Peace Prize winner Mandela insisted he had not come to knock heads together. However his presence was a reminder to delegates of his personal interest in ending Burundi's decade-long civil war, in which he was once a leading mediator. REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya

3535. Former South African President Nelson Mandela attends the State of The Nation address delivered by current President Jacob Zuma in Parliament in Cape Town, June 3, 2009. South Africa must act now to minimise the impact of the global financial crisis on the poor, but still has to spend wisely, Zuma said on Wednesday in his first major speech as the country's leader. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

3636. South African President F.W. de Klerk (R) and then-African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela (L) hold up medals and certificates after they were jointly awarded the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony December 10, 1993 at Oslo's city hall. De Klerk, South Africa's last white president, who dismantled apartheid and with Nelson Mandela led the country to democracy, said on Tuesday he was quitting as leader of the opposition National Party and would leave active politics.

3737. U.S. President George W. Bush meets with former South African President Nelson Mandela in the Oval Office of the White House, May 17, 2005. Mandela yesterday said that he backs Bush's call for global liberty but disagrees with some of his methods. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

3838. South African President Nelson Mandela adjusts his sun glasses as he and his companion Grace Machel set sail aboard the QE II cruise ship in Durban harbour March 29 before setting sail for Cape Town. Mandela and Machel are spending three days on board the luxury liner as part of a drive to raise money for Nelson Mandela children's fund.

3939. South African President Nelson Mandela speaks to Mary Grace Mandela Michel, the daughter of Saint Lucia's Deputy Prime Minister who was named after Mandela, during a celebration for his arrival to the island, July 4. Caribbean crowds flocked to a Saint Lucian park to catch a glimpse of the man they praised as a hero to the people of the Caribbean as well as to African blacks.

4040. South Africa's que to cast their votes in Johannesburg April14, 2004. National polls indicate a major victory for the ANC, which under Nelson mandela led South Africa from apartheid to democracy in the countrys first all-race vote in 1994 REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya

4141. Nelson Mandela speaks to the crowds at Trafalgar Square during the South African democracy concert April 29,2001. A crowd of 20,000 turned out to be entertained by music groups such as REM and The Corrs.

4242. Nelson Mandela gives an animated speach to the crowds at Trafalgar Square during the South African democracy concert April 29, 2001. A crowd of 20,000 turned out to be entertained by music groups such as REM and The Corrs. REUTERS/Jonathan Evans

4343. Nelson Mandela attends a memorial for his biographer and former Drum editor Anthony Sampson in Johannesburg. Nelson Mandela attends a memorial for his biographer and former Drum editor late Anthony Sampson in Johannesburg February 8, 2005. REUTERS/Radu Sigheti

4444. Russian President Boris Yeltsin (R) kisses his South African counterpart Nelson Mandela during their meeting April 29. Yeltsin boasted of his good health on Thursday, telling Mandela that even the Communists could not bring him down.

4545. Former South African President Nelson Mandela smiles for photographers after a meeting with actor Tim Robbins at Mandela's home in Johannesburg September 22, 2005. Robbins is currently in South Africa filming. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

4646. Former South African President Nelson Mandela (L) raises the hand of the new President, Thabo Mbeki after he took the oath of office at the Union Buildings in Pretoria June 16. South Africans and foreigners of all colours gathered on Wednesday morning to bid farewell to Mandela and welcome his sucessor Mbeki as South Africa's second democratically elected President.

4747. Outgoing President Nelson Mandela offers his seat to President-elect Thabo Mbeki following his last appearance in parliament June 14. South Africa's second democratically elected parliament met for the first time on Monday to formally choose the country's new President.

4848. Lionel Bernstein (L), Andrew Mlangeni, Dennis Goldberg (C), Raymond Mhlaba and Arthur Goldreich (R) pose at a small-holding at Rivonia Liliesleaf farm in Johannesburg December 15, 2001. More than a generation after they were sent to die in prison alongside Nelson Mandela, the handful of South Africans celebrated victory on Saturday in their struggle against white rule. The 1963-64 Rivonia treason trial, where Mandela delivered his famous I am prepared to die speech from the dock, sentenced eight anti-apartheid activists including the former president to life behind bars. REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya

4949. Tourists flock to visit Robben Island Prison December 6 where former President Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his 27 year incarceration. The former penal colony, situated about 8 miles off Cape Town, will form the centrepiece of the city's millennium celebrations. Mandela, and about 500 guests, will see in the new millennium at a party on the island.

5050. Vistors peer through an open doorway at Robben Island Prison, where former President Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his 27 year incarceration. The former penal colony, situated about 8 miles off Cape Town, will form the centrepiece of the city's millenium celebrations. Mandela, and about 500 guests, will see in the new millenium at a party on the island.

5151. Former South African President Nelson Mandela (L) shares a moment with his wife Graca Machel (R) ahead of the final match of the Mandela Rugby Challenge Plate at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, July 23, 2005. REUTERS/Pool

5252. Former President Nelson Mandela smiles as he arrives with his wife Graca Machel, for the Sixth Annual Nelson Mandela lecture in Kliptown, near Johannesburg , July 12, 2008. The lecture, addressed by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf forms part of celebrations marking Mandela's 90th birthday. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

5353. Postage stamps issued by the South African Post Office to celebrate former President Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday are pictured during its launch in Houghton, outside Johannesburg July 15 2008. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

5454. President Thabo Mbeki (C) and former Presidents FW de Klerk (L) and Nelson Mandela (R) pose for photographers outside Parliament in Cape Town, after Mbeki's election as President in this file picture taken May 10, 2004. South Africa's ruling party said on September 20, 2008, it had decided to recall President Thabo Mbeki before the end of his term next year and that he had pledged to accept the move and step aside voluntarily. The move follows the dismissal of corruption charges last week against Jacob Zuma, fired by Mbeki as the country's Deputy-President in 2005. Picture taken May 10, 2004. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/Files

5555. Former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela reacts as he is presented with a cheque at the Mandela foundation in Houghton June 18, 2008. South Africa's Sanlam Ubuntu-Botho Community Development Trust donated 3 million rand ($373,400) to the Nelson Mandela Foundation's sustainability trust on Wednesday.
REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

5656. Nelson Mandela attends the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma at the Union Buildings in Pretoria May 9, 2009. REUTERS/Pool

5757. U.S. President Bill Clinton (R) and South African President Nelson Mandela peer through the bars of the cell in which Mandela spent 17 years while incarcerated by the former South African government. Mandela showed the cell to Clinton during a tour of Robben Island March 27, the penal colony where he was held.

5858. Former South African President Nelson Mandela wearing traditional Xhosa during the wedding of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini 's daughter, Princess Nandi, December 7, 2002. Princess Nandi is to marry Prince Nfundo Bovulengwe Mtirara, the great grand nephew of Nelson Mandela, at the Transkei.

5959. South Africa's former President Nelson Mandela smiles as he announces the upcoming 46664 concert in Johannesburg, October 1, 2007. The concert, which takes it's name from Mandela's prison number, will aim to create awareness on issues that surround HIV and Aids, and will take place in Johannesburg on World Aids Day, December 1. REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya

Thailand ExPremier Thaksin  Shinawatra visited Nelson Mandela, August 2010