Nelson Rolihlahia Mandela - born 18th July 1918 in s South African Anti- Apartheid Activist Revolutionary and Politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 the first to be elected in a fully representative Multi-Racial election. His administration focused on dismantling apartheid's legacy and cutting racism, poverty and inequality. Politically a Democratic Socialist he served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) political party from 1991 to 1997. Internationally Mandela was the Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999. A Xhosa born of the Thembu Royal Family, Mandela attended Fort Hare University and the University of Witwatersrand studying Law. Living in Johannesburg township and becoming involved in ant-colonial politics, he joined the ANC becoming a founding member of its Youth League.
When the White Supremacy National Party Government implemented Apartheid in 1948, he came to prominence in the ANC in 1962 Defiance Campaign, being elected President of the Transvaal ANC branch and over seeing 1956 Congress Of The People. Working as a Lawyer he was repeatedly arrested for sedition activities and with the ANC Leadership stood trials on Treason Grounds from 1956 to 1961. Although initially committed to non-violence protest, in association with the South African Communist Party he co-founded the militant Umkhanto We Sizwe (MK) in 1961 leading to bombing campaign of sabotage and conspiracy to over throw the government and sentence to life in Prison.
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