the Nelson Mandela time line

1918- Nelson Mandela was born in Qunu, Soth africa
1937- Mandela moved to Healdtown
1940- Mandela returned to Mqhekezweni, Jongintaba had arranged marriages for Mandela
1941- Mandela fled to Johannesburg via Queenstown and found work as a night watchman at Crown Mines
1944- Mandela helped found the ANC Youth League
1949- Mandela was adopted by ANC
1952- Mandela opened the first Black Law firm in South Africa
1962- Mandela had been arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in the notorious Robben Island prison.
1990- Mandela was released from prison
1993- Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with F.W.De Klerk
1994- Mandela was inaugurated as the first democratically elected State President of South Africa
1999- Mandela retired
2001- Mandela was successfully treated for prostate cancer
2002- Mandela inaugurated the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture
2003- Mandela created at Rhodes House, University of Oxford, to provide postgraduate scholarships to African students
2004- Mandela amid failing health
2013- Mandela died



Turn point

Whilst at university Nelson Mandela became increasingly aware of the unjust nature of South African Society. The majority of Black South Africans had little opportunities either Economic or Political.

expelled from Fort Hare for organising a student strike.

Mandela had to resign from the ANC and work underground.

 In the late 50s (56 ‒61) there was an extremely lengthy Treason Trial in which Mandela and several others were charged with treason.

However in 1960 the Sharpeville massacre of 63 black South African’s changed the whole political climate. South Africa was increasingly isolated on the international scene and the government banned the ANC. This led Mandela to advocate armed struggle through the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK).

However by 1962 Mandela had been arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in the notorious Robben Island prison. Life at the prison was tough and uncompromising.

 (Nelson Mandela recently lost his eldest son to this disease and Mandela has worked hard to campaign on this issue.)