South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, philanthropist and irrevocably the world’s most beloved statesmen, former president of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela has died, 95 years of age. His courageous words and actions played a powerful role in uniting South Africa.
South Africa’s first black president once served 27 years in prison. August 1962, Mandela was charged with inciting workers’ strikes and leaving the country without permission, and in 1964, already serving five years in prison, was again called to court and charged with four counts of sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government. At the opening of the defence’s proceedings, Mandela gave an inspirational four-hour long speech. He was given 18 more years. During his time locked away in his cell, Mandela began correspondence studies for a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of London. It wasn’t until 1990 amid escalating civil strife that an international campaign lobbying for his release was granted. He focused his life towards and succeeded to abolish apartheid and establish multiracial elections in 1994, ending white minority rule in South Africa. Many know or are certainly aware of the character of this truly inspirational man — Nelson Mandela was a true hero in every sense of the word.
A well-wisher writes a message on a poster of Nelson Mandela on which he and others have written their messages of condolence and support, in the street outside his old house in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa on Dec. 6. (Ben Curtis/Associated Press)
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