NELSON MANDELA

Main

Born at Mvezo in the Transkei

July 18, 1918

Attends primary school near Qunu (receives the name ‘Nelson’ from a teacher)

1925

Entrusted to Paramount Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo

1927

Nelson's father dies

1927

Attends Clarkebury Boarding Institute in Engcobo

1934

Attends Healdtown, the Wesleyan College at Fort Beaufort

1937

Goes to University College of Fort Hare, in Alice

1939

Expelled from college

1940

Escapes an arranged marriage; becomes night watchman at mine.

1941

Regent of A.N.C.visits Mandela in Johannesburg

1941

Begins to attend African National Congress (ANC) meetings.

1942

Co-founds the ANC Youth League (ANCYL)

1944

Gets married to Evelyn Ntoko Mase

1944

Has the first of four children.

1945

Thembekile (1945); Makaziwe (1947 – who dies after nine months); Makgatho (1950); Makaziwe (1954)

Elected national secretary of the ANCYL

1948

Elected President of the ANCYL

1951

Arrested and charged for violating the Suppression of Communism Act

1952

Arrested and joins 155 others on trial for Treason. All are acquitted by 1961.

1956

Gets divorced from Evelyn Mase; Marries Nomzamo Winnie Madikizela

1958

Sharpeville Massacre

March 21,1960

A State of Emergency imposed and Mr Mandela detained

March 30, 1960

The ANC is banned

April 8, 1960

Goes underground; Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) is formed

1961

Leaves the country for military training and to garner support for the ANC

January 1962

Arrested. Sentenced to five years for causing problems and leaving.

August 1962

Charged for sabotage in the Rivonia trial with nine others

October 1963

All except Rusty Bernstein and James Kantor are convicted and sentenced to life

June 1964

Mr Mandela is sent to Pollsmoor Prison

1982

Does not accept South African President PW Botha's offer to release him.

1985

Admitted to Tygerberg Hospital and is diagnosed with Tuberculosis

1988

Goes to Victor Verster Prison to finish his prison sentence.

December 1988

ANC is unbanned

February 2, 1990

Released from prison.

February 11, 1990

Elected ANC Deputy President

March 2, 1990

Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

1993

Votes for the first time in his life

April 1994

Inaugurated as President of the Republic of South Africa

May 10, 1994

Divorces Winnie Mandela

1996

Marries Graça Machel on his 80th birthday

July 1998

Steps down after one term as President

1999

Diagnosed with prostate cancer

2001

Watches his grandson Mandla become chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council

2007

Celebrates his 92nd birthday at home in Johannesburg with family and friends

July 2010

Is visited at home by American First Lady Michelle Obama.

June 21, 2011

Celebrates his 93rd birthday with his family in Qunu, Eastern Cape

July 18, 2011

Celebrates his 94th birthday with his family in Qunu, Eastern Cape

July 18, 2012