Serving as the President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 and the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, Nelson Mandela’s political achievements emerged in a non-conventional way.
Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, which meant that he campaigned against the apartheid system of racial segregation which was enforced by the national party in South Africa between 1948 and 1994.
Racial segregation in South Africa began in colonial times. Apartheid as an official policy was later introduced and the legislation classified inhabitants into four racial groups: native; White; colored; and Asian.
Areas were segregated, meaning that racial groups were separated geographically and institutionally. Non-White political representation was completely abolished in 1970 and from that year on Black people where deprived of their citizenship and had to become citizens of a tribal-based self-governing system instead. The government segregated education, medical care and other public services, and provided Black people with services that were inferior to those of White people.
As the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), Mandela led his political army as they fought for equal rights for Blacks. In 1962, he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, which resulted in a life sentence in prison. After twenty-seven years, he was finally released and led his party in negotiations that led to multi-racial democracy in 1994, when he was appointed president.
With more than two hundred and fifty awards, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, Mandela is certainly an individual who has had a great impact within the political arena as well as giving inspiration to the African people as a nation.
His life, achievements and efforts to restore equality despite opposition are something that we as a nation of Black people, as well as other nations, can learn from.
Nelson Mandela, we salute you (Rest in Peace).
Emma Harding