101 Amazing Nelson Mandela Facts by Jack Goldstein

Author:Jack Goldstein
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mandela, 46664, president, south africa, apartheid, death, de klerk, nobel, hospital, xhosa, robben, prison, free nelson mandela, black, white, winnie, springbok, anc, mk
ISBN: 9781782348399
Publisher: Andrews UK
Published: 2013-04-28T16:00:00+00:00

In Prison

Mandela remained in the Robben Island prison for eighteen years.

His cell was just seven feet by eight feet (2.1m x 2.4m) and contained just a straw mat for him to sleep on.

Mandela’s eyesight was permanently damaged when he was forced to work in a lime quarry but forbidden to wear sunglasses, even in the glaring sun.

Mandela was classed as a category D prisoner. This meant that he was allowed one visitor and one letter every six months. The letters he received however were always heavily censored by the prison.

The world hadn’t forgotten about Mandela through this period, and regularly held talks with the South African government to free him. They did not listen however. In 1982 he was moved to Pollsmoor prison, as authorities felt he had too much influence over younger prisoners (who would be released due to shorter sentences) at Robben island.

Throughout the 1980s, the ANC increased their demonstrations against the government, who retaliated with violence and police brutality themselves. Mandela was offered freedom if the ANC renounced violence, but he refused.

World support peaked in 1988 with the advent of Mandela’s 70th birthday. The BBC organised a tribute concert at London’s Wembley stadium and millions of voices across the world called for his immediate release.

When the president of South Africa - P.W. Botha - suffered a stroke, he was replaced by F.W. de Klerk. The new president realised the situation in South Africa had become untenable. The world frowned heavily upon Apartheid and it was affecting trade with the country and therefore the economy. Further to this, the violence between the various races in the country was increasing, and safety of all communities became a significant concern.

Although other ANC prisoners were released, Mandela initially was not. However, following after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, the president discussed with his cabinet legalising the ANC as a political party and freeing Mandela.

On the 11th of February 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison. He immediately announced that he was committed to peace and reconciliation - although stressed that the ANC would continue their armed campaign, but purely as a ‘defensive action’. The ultimate wish that he declared in his release speech however was that the government would agree to negotiations to give black South Africans the vote in both local and national elections.

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