Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in jail for fighting against apartheid. After Mandela was set free, he led the African National Congress to form a government and he became South Africa’s first black president. As president, he urged all South Africans to work together to make one ‘rainbow nation’.

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NELSON MANDELA1918 – 2013

EARLY LIFERolihlahla Mandela was born in the Transkei, South Africa on 18 July 1918. His name ‘Nelson’ was given to him by one of his teachers. Like most South Africans, Nelson Mandela was black, but people whose families had come from Europe and Asia also lived there, as well as people of mixed race. Some white people were descendants of Dutch settlers or ‘Boers’ (Dutch for ‘farmers’) and spoke a language called Afrikaans. Others had come from Britain, which ruled South Africa for many years.

South Africa had its own government when Nelson Mandela was a boy but black people had little say in how their country was run. White people owned most of South Africa’s money, industries and land. Most black people were poor.

GOING INTO POLITICSWhen he left school, Nelson Mandela studied law and made friends with another lawyer named Oliver Tambo. Together they set up a law firm. In 1944, Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC). He wanted black South Africans to have the same rights as whites, including being free to vote in elections and helping to run their country. Then in 1948, the government made new laws to keep whites and blacks apart. The ANC was against the new ‘apartheid’ laws. In 1952 Mandela became one of the ANC’s leaders.

APARTHEIDApartheid laws made life difficult for all non-white South Africans. They had to live and work where they were told. There were separate schools for blacks and whites, even separate seats in parks. It was very hard for black people. Nelson Mandela and other ANC leaders decided to take direct action to fight the government.

BIOGRAPHY

PROTESTS AND A SECRET ARMYIn 1956, Mandela was put on trial for plotting against the government. The trial lasted five years but he was eventually set free. Then, in March 1960, police killed 69 black people at a township called Sharpeville. They were protesting against apartheid and the killings caused an outcry. The South African government banned the ANC, which then set up a ‘secret army’ led by Mandela. The army was called ‘Umkhonto we Sizwe’ or ‘The Spear of the Nation’. Mandela went abroad secretly to find help.

When other countries realised what was happening in South Africa many stopped trading with the country. Many sports teams and music stars would not play there either. Still the government kept to its harsh apartheid laws. Mandela went into hiding, but in 1962 he and other ANC leaders went on trial again, for planning a war against the government. In 1964 Mandela was sent to prison for life.

MANDELA IN PRISONMandela was sent to prison on Robben Island, near the coast of Cape Town but was later moved to Pollsmoor Prison. During his 27 years in prison (1964-1990) Nelson Mandela became world-famous for his fight against apartheid. ‘Free Nelson Mandela’ was a call heard in many countries.

In 1990, South Africa’s new president, F W de Klerk, decided it was time for change. He let Mandela out of jail and lifted the ban on the ANC. In return Mandela agreed that the ANC’s secret army would stop fighting. Nelson Mandela was chosen as the ANC leader in 1991.

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PRESIDENT MANDELAIn 1993 Mandela and de Klerk were given the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing fresh hope to South Africa. In 1994 blacks voted for the first time in a South African election. The ANC won and formed a government. Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black president.

Mandela was president until 1999. When he retired he travelled the world as an admired world leader. He gave his support to many causes, such as the fight against the disease HIV/AIDS. In 2007, he set up The Elders, a group of older world leaders like himself who could give good advice. He was respected for many years as South Africa’s elder statesman and was recognised throughout the world as a source of inspiration and as a role model.

Nelson Mandela died on 5 December 2013.

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NOBEL PRIZES

Explain the history and use of these prizes and what the Peace Prize represents.

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Ask pupils if prizes are a good way to reward or recognise what people do.

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THE ELDERS

Do pupils think we value the advice of older people like The Elders, the group set up by Nelson Mandela?

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MONUMENTS

Mandela was honoured by statues around the world. Why do pupils think people have statues erected in their memory?

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Are there any statues near where pupils live? Explore who has been commemorated and the reasons why.

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ASSEMBLY IDEAS

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PEACE AND CONFLICT

Talk about world conflicts. Explain the difference between wars and civil wars.

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Discuss Aung San Suu Kyi who suffered years in prison/house arrest in Burma because of her opposition to the ruling regime.

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Explore what we mean by the word RECONCILIATION.

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CIVIL RIGHTS AND BLACK LEADERS

Compare what happened in South Africa with the Civil Rights movement in the United States.

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Suggest or invite examples of other civil rights campaigners/black leaders of modern times such as Martin Luther King, Barack Obama and Kofi Annan. Use this as a

springboard to introduce the United Nations and its role.

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REMEMBERING NELSON MANDELA

Ask pupils to imagine what being in prison is like: who and what they would miss?

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Ask pupils what they think kept Nelson Mandela going through 27 years in prison.

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What can pupils learn from Nelson Mandela’s example?

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What do pupils think future historians will write about Nelson Mandela?

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