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Chronology of the life of Nelson Rolihlahla MandelaThis is an attempt to list some of the achievements of former President Nelson Mandela and the events that influenced his life in chronological order. It does not include hiss numerous awards and honours. 1918 18 July: Born at Mvezo on the banks of the Mbashe River, in the Transkei to Nosekeni Fanny and Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa (Chief Counsellor to the Chief of the Tembu clan) His father is stripped of his chieftainship, after defying a magistrate, and loses his wealth. His mother moves to Qunu for support from friends and family Baptised into the Methodist (Wesleyan) Church 1925 Attends the local one-roomed primary school near Qunu (receives the name ‘Nelson’ from school teacher Miss Mdingane) 1927 His ailing father entrusts him to his close relative, the Regent Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo, Paramount Chief of the Tembu Father dies Moves to the Great Place, Mqekezweni where he shares a bungalow with the Regent’s son, Justice Bambilanga. 1934 Enters initiation school at Tyhalarha, on the banks of the Mbashe River and undergoes traditional circumcision. Goes to Clarkebury Boarding Institute in the district of Engcobo. Completes the junior certificate in two years instead of the usual three. 1937 Goes to Healdtown, the Wesleyan College at Fort Beaufort 1938 Appointed prefect. Wins a prize for his essay in isiXhosa. Is inspired by the visit to the school by the famous Xhosa poet Krune Mqhayi Graduates from Healdtown 1939 Enrolls at the University College of Fort Hare, in Alice – the only black university in South Africa Meets fellow student, Oliver Tambo and becomes friends with his nephew Kaiser Matanzima Studies English, anthropology, politics, native administration and Roman Dutch Law Aims to one day become an interpreter or clerk in the Native Affairs Department Joins the Drama Dept and acted in a play about Abraham Lincoln Joins Students Christian Association Does ballroom dancing 1940 Elected to the Students’ Representative Council but resigned over his support for a student boycott over the ‘unsatisfactory diet’ at Fort Hare Expelled. Ignores the Regent’s order for him to apologise and return 1941 He and Justice run away to Johannesburg to escape arranged marriages. He becomes employed as a night watchman at Crown Mines. Is ordered by the Regent to return home and is dismissed Stays with a cousin, Garlick Mbekeni in George Goch township, to whom he shared his dream of becoming a lawyer Mbekeni introduces him to Walter Sisulu, an estate agent in Johannesburg Moves in with Rev. J Mabutho, of the Anglican Church, in 8th Ave, Alexandra Moves in with the Xhoma family, in 46 7th Avenue, Alexandra Sisulu arranges with Lazar Sidelsky for him to do articles at the law firm Witkin, Sidelsky & Eidelman Meets Gaur Radebe, a Communist and colleague at the law firm He later works at the law firms Terblanche and Briggish (1951); Helman & Michel (1952) and H M Basner (1952) Visited in Johannesburg by the Regent and they reconcile 1942 Moves to the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association (WNLA) compound, to be closer to work in downtown Johannesburg The Regent dies Completes his BA through the University of South Africa (Unisa) Attends African National Congress (ANC) meetings with Radebe 1943 Marches, with Radebe, in support of the Alexandra Bus Boycott Returns to Fort Hare for his graduation Enrolls for an LLB at the University of the Witwatersrand Meets Joe Slovo and Ruth First, George Bizos, Braam Fischer, Harold Wolpe, Ismail Meer, Selma and Jules Browde Classmate Sarel Tighy (who later becomes a United Party Member of Parliament) moves to another seat when Mandela sits next to him in class Joins the ANC 1944 Founds the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) with Anton Lembede, Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu 15 July Marries Walter Sisulu’s cousin Evelyn Mase and they live next door to the writer Es’kia Mphahlele Is best man at the wedding of Walter Sisulu and Nontsikelelo Albertina Thetiwe 1946 His son Thembikile (Thembi) – with Evelyn Mase – is born The couple gets a three roomed house without electricity (no 8115) in Orlando West, Soweto 1947 Their daughter, Makaziwe is born but dies after nine months Completes his articles Gets a loan from the Institute of Race Relations to study full-time Elected to the executive of the Transvaal ANC 1948 Elected national secretary of the ANCYL May: Visits Cape Town for the first time and stays three months Leaves Wits without an LLB 1949 His mother comes to Johannesburg for medical attention and stays with the couple December: The ANCYL takes control of the ANC Elected to the executive 1950 Joins Donaldson Orlando Community Centre where he and Thembikile (Thembi) did boxing training Becomes secretary of the International Club (cinema club) 1 May: Witnesses police brutality at a May Day gathering in Soweto. 18 are killed 1951 Makgatho Mandela born to Nelson Mandela and Evelyn Mase Elected President of the ANCYL 1952 Passes his driving licence test 31 May: Announcement of forthcoming Defiance Campaign with Mandela as Volunteer-in-Chief 26 June: Defiance Campaign begins. Mandela is arrested and spends two nights in jail Elected President of the Transvaal Region of the ANC 30 July: Arrested for violating the Suppression of Communism Act. August: Opens his own law office with Zubeida Patel as his secretary September: Convicted by Justice F L H Rumpff, with J S Moroka, Walter Sisulu and 17 others under the Suppression of Communism Act. Sentenced to nine months imprisonment with hard labour, suspended for two years. Banned for six months (is forbidden from attending meetings; talking to more than one person at a time and leaving Johannesburg without permission). December ANC’s annual conference elects him as the First of deputy presidents Opens South Africa’s first black law firm with Oliver Tambo at Chancellor House in Johannesburg 1953 Shortly after his banning order expires, he is banned for two years. Campaigns against the forced removals, under the Group Areas Act, from Sophiatown to Meadowlands Devises the M-Plan for the ANC’s future underground operations 1954 The Transvaal Law Society petitions the High Court to have him struck off the role because of his participation in the Defiance Campaign. Defended (at no cost) by Walter Pollack, QC and William Aaronsohn. Justice Ramsbottom upheld his appeal. Daughter Makaziwe is born 1955 26 June: Watches, from the edge of the crowd, with Sisulu as the Congress of the People at Kliptown launches the Freedom Charter. September: Banning order expires Goes on holiday, for the first time since 1948, to Durban, Umzumkulu, Umtata, Qunu, Mqhekezweni, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town (combining the trip with meeting ANC people) While he is in jail for two weeks Evelyn moves out. 1956 Briefly visits Transkei with Sisulu and buys some land 13 April: Writes to the Minister of Justice asking for reasons for his bannings 5 December: Arrested in the early hours of the morning. By 15 December 156 people have been arrested and are charged in the infamous 1956 Treason Trial (by its end in 1961 all the accused have been acquitted). 1958 19 March: He and Evelyn Mase divorce 14 June: Marries Nomzamo Winnie Madikizela in Bizana. His banning orders were relaxed, giving him six days out of Johannesburg 1959 5 February: Their first daughter, Zenani is born 1960 30 March: The ANC is banned, the country’s first State of Emergency is imposed and Mandela is one of thousands of people detained Burns his pass book December: Defies banning orders to see an ill Makgatho in the Transkei and drives him back to Johannesburg for surgery Second daughter with Winnie is born, and his named Zindziswa (after the daughter of the Xhosa poet, Mqhayi. 1961 March: Goes underground to attend the All-in Conference in Pietermartizburg. Says goodbye to all his children. 29: Acquitted, with the last remaining Treason Trial accused Does not return home after the trial ends. Goes underground and visits ANC leaders in Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town to mobilize for secret structures Dubbed ‘The Black Pimpernel’ by the media Lives with a family in Market Street, Johannesburg; with activist Wolf Kodesh; in the servant’s quarters of a doctor’s house where he pretends to be a gardener; and at a sugar plantation in Natal. June: The ANC forms its armed wing Umkhonto weSizwe with Mandela as Commander-in-Chief. He sets up High and Regional Commands Moves to Lilliesleaf Farm in Rivonia 26 June: Writes a letter from the underground proclaiming “the struggle is my life” 1962 Smuggled out of the country for military training and goes to Tanganyika, Bechuanaland, Ethiopia, Senegal, Algeria, Kenya and the UK. Returns and visits Luthuli in Groutville, Natal with Cecil Williams, a white theatre director, posing as his chauffeur, David Motsamayi. 5 August: Arrested at a roadblock near Howick after an informer tips off police. Held at the Fort Prison and then transferred to Pretoria. November: Makes famous speech ‘I am a black man in a white man’s court’. Convicted on incitement and leaving the country illegally. Sentenced to five years in jail. Shouts ‘Amandla’ three times to his supporters in the public gallery who responded by singing Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika 1963 May: Sent to Robben Island and put to hard labour July: Sent back to Pretoria to stand trial with other members of Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) after police raid Lilliesleaf Farm in Rivonia, MK’s headquarters. 9 October: Charged with sabotage with Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada, Raymond Mhlaba, Andrew Mlangeni, Elias Motsoaledi, Rusty Bernstein, Dennis Goldberg and James Kantor. 1964 20 April: Famous statement from the dock in which Mandela says “I have fought against White domination, and I have fought against Black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” 11 June: All except Bernstein and Kantor are convicted 12 June: All sentenced to life imprisonment. Gets the prison number 466/64 13 June: All but Dennis Goldberg, who was the only white person in the group, are flown to Robben Island Allowed one visitor and write and receive only one letter every six months – no newspapers He and colleagues told to stop breaking rocks in the prison courtyard and start sewing jerseys. (It was for the benefit of a reporter and photographer from Daily Telegraph) 1965 January: Sent to work in the quarry First visit from Winnie 1966 Succeeds against the Transvaal Law Society which wants him struck off the roll July: Joins a hunger strike against poor prison conditions Second visit from Winnie 1967 Successfully appeals, with Wilton Mkwayi, against his listing as a ‘Communist’ September: Makgatho visits for the first time 1968 September; Mother dies after a heart attack, just weeks after she visits him in prison. He is denied permission to attend her funeral 1969 July: Thembikile (Thembi) is killed in a car accident. Denied permission to attend his funeral 1970 November: First visit from Winnie in two years. She had been detained for five months (during which time she was tortured) and was then jailed for 491 days and then banned and put under house arrest. 1971 May: Strip-searched and verbally abused by drunken warders 1974 Winnie and Peter Magubane are jailed for six months each for breaking their banning orders by communicating with each other. 1975 Begins writing autobiography, which Laloo Chiba transcribes into tiny handwriting and is buried hidden. Smuggled out by Mac Maharaj on his release in 1976 1976 Justice Minister Jimmy Kruger visits and offers to dramatically reduce his sentence if he recognizes Transkei as an independent state and agrees to be released there. The offer is rejected. 1977 19 May: Winnie and Zindzi are banished to Brandfort in the Free State Media brought to Robben Island where they photograph and film Mandela and his colleagues without their permission 1978 Prison authorities start their own radio station for the prisoners (they are still not allowed to listen to other radio channels) 1979 Taken to the mainland for medical treatment after foot injury 1980 Granted the right to receive newspapers Release Mandela petitions started 1982 March: Mandela, Sisulu, Mhlaba and Mlangeni are moved to Pollsmoor Prison on the mainland. They are joined a few months later by Kathrada 1984 Release Mandela Campaign established Visited by Lord Nicholas Bethell, a British politician and Prof Samuel Dash a US Law Professor 1985 31 January: President P W Botha offers to release Mandela if he renounces violence 10 February: Zindzi reads out her father’s rejection of the offer at a United Democratic Front Rally at Soweto’s Jabulani Stadium. It ended with the words “Only free men can negotiate…. Your freedom and mine cannot be separated… I will return.” Admitted to Cape Town’s Volks Hospital for prostate surgery. Visited by Kobie Coetsee. Kept apart from his colleagues when he returns to Pollsmoor. 1986 16 March: Commonwealth Eminent Person’s Group (EPG) visit Mandela in Pollsmoor. The meeting is observed by Justice Minister Kobie Coetsee and the Commissioner of Prisons Lt. Gen W.H. Willemse. 16 May: Another visit by the Commonwealth EPG this time in Pollsmoor Prison’s guest house June; Mandela meets Kobie Coetsee at his official residence August: Mandela goes on his first car outing in 24 years when he was taken on a trip by the Lt Col Gawie Marx. He stops for a cold drink leaving Mandela alone in the car. 1987 Resumes contact with Coetsee. Private discussions begin with a government team about future negotiations November: Govan Mbeki is released 1988 May: First formal meeting at Pollsmoor Prison with government group Justice Minister, Kobie Coetsee; Commissioner of Prisons, Lt. Gen. W.H. Willemse; Director General of Prisons Fanie van der Merwe and head of the National Intelligence Service Dr Niel Barnard. August: Contracts TB and is admitted to Tygerberg Hospital where he spends six weeks after surgery to drain a lung December: Admitted to Constantiaberg MediClinic, a private hospital in Cape Town 9 December: Moved to Victor Verster Prison Meetings with government group continued 1989 January: visited by Colleagues from Pollsmoor 4 July: Meets PW Botha at his office, Tuynhuys August: PW Botha resigns. Replaced by FW de Klerk 15 October: Kathrada, Sisulu, Mhlaba, Mlangeni are released 13 December: Meets De Klerk at Tuynhuys 1990 2 February: President FW de Klerk unbans the ANC, the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) and other political organizations and says that Mandela will be released. 10 February: De Klerk holds a press conference to announce that Mandela will be released the next day. 11 February: Thousands gather at Victor Verster Prison to witness Mandela walking from prison. Addresses a crowd from the balcony of the Cape Town City Hall. Spends his first night of freedom (with Winnie) as Archbishop Tutu’s guests at his official residence “Bishopscourt” 12 February: Holds his first press conference in the garden of Bishopscourt Leaves Cape Town for Johannesburg where he spends that night in North Riding at the home of a supporter 13 February: Flown by helicopter to FNB Stadium in Soweto to a ‘Welcome Home’ rally Returns to his house in Orlando. 27 February: Travels to Lusaka to meet the ANC, a tour of Africa and then Sweden to see Oliver Tambo who is recovering from a stroke 2 March: ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) names Mandela as ANC Deputy President 21 March: Attends Namibia’s independence ceremony in Windhoek 5 April: Meets FW De Klerk to discuss negotiations between the ANC and the government May 2-4: ANC holds talks with the government which results in the signing of the Groote Schuur Minute – an agreement on removing obstacles to negotiations June – July: Embarks on a six-week 13 nation tour in Africa, Europe and North America 6 – 7 August: Government and ANC sign the Pretoria Minute after two days of talks. It is an agreement about the release of political prisoners, the return of exiles and the repeal of repressive laws. The ANC suspends the armed struggle September: Makes a speech alleging “a hidden hand” in the violence that was ravaging KZN and PWV townships 1990 July: Meets Graca Machel in Maputo, Mozambique December: Meets Oliver Tambo on his return to South Africa 1991 29 January: Meets with Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi and the two agree to measures to end violence April: Meets with the PAC in Harare to discuss working together 18 May: ANC pulls out of talks because of increasing violence in townships June: Attends the summit of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in Abuja, Nigeria and then visits the UK and Belgium 2 – 7 July: Elected ANC President at ANC’s 48th National Conference (Durban) the first inside the country in 30 years. July – August: Visits Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil September: Signs the National Peace Accord with the NP and the IFP October: Attends the Patriotic Front Conference in Durban November: Visits West Africa 20 – 21 December: First meeting by the multiparty Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa) Meets President George Bush (Snr) 1992 February: Visits Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, France and Switzerland 13 April: Announces his separation from Winnie Mandela Joins De Klerk and Buthelezi to address an Easter gathering of more than a million members of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) in Moria May: Second meeting of Codesa deadlocks over violence in townships. Suggests De Klerk is personally responsible for the violence. 17 June: Outraged at the Boipatong Massacre, Mandela again suspends talks July: Addresses the UN Security Council and asked it to send violence monitors Attends the Olympic Games in Barcelona where South Africa has a team for the first time in 30 years. 26 September: Signs with De Klerk the Record of Understanding to break the deadlock in negotiations 1993 10 April: Addresses the nation on television after ANC and Communist Party leader, Chris Hani is assassinated by Janusz Walusz. Calls for calm and reminds public that while Hani was killed by a white man, a white woman gave the killer’s registration number to police, enabling his arrest. Demands an election date. May: Causes a row with a public statement that 14-year-olds should be allowed to vote but is quickly dissuaded. 30 July – 12 July: Visits six US cities to raise support for the ANC’s election campaign Urges the lifting of economic sanctions against South Africa. December: Is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with F. W. De Klerk 1994 Publishes his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom April: Meets with De Klerk, King Goodwill Zwelethini and Mangosuthu Buthelezi in an effort to bring the latter into the elections. The intervention fails but Buthelezi agrees, at the last minute, to participate after mediation by Kenyan academic, Washington Okumu. 27 April: Votes, for the first time in his life at Inanda in KwaZulu-Natal 9 May: Unanimously elected by Parliament as first president of a democratic South Africa 10 May: Inaugurated as President Establishes the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and announces that he will give one-third of his salary to the fund June: Appointed the second Vice-President of the OAU at a meeting in Tunisia July: Has eye surgery for a cataract December: Opens the 49th conference of the ANC in Bloemfontein. 1995 April: Fires Winnie Mandela from her Cabinet post. She is briefly reinstated and then dismissed Appoints Archbishop Desmond Tutu as chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Wears jersey of Springbok rugby captain and attends the World Cup Final which South Africa wins Has tea with widows of politicians (National Party and struggle leaders) August: Flies to the white enclave of Orania in the Northern Cape to visit the widow of Hendrik Verwoerd. 1996 Divorced from Winnie Mandela 2 March: Becomes the first foreigner to address Mali’s Parliament 1997 Handed over the ANC presidency to Thabo Mbeki at the ANC’s National Congress in Mafikeng 1998 18 July: Marries Graca Machel in a private ceremony on his 80th birthday 1999 February: Gives his last state of the nation address. Steps down as president fulfilling his promise to lead only for one term Nelson Mandela Foundation set up as his office 2000 Speaks out against AIDS at the 13th International AIDS Conference Commended for his facilitation of Burundi/Arusha Peace Process 2001 Diagnosed with prostate cancer 2003 January: Condemns the US threats to invade Iraq 2004 May: Evelyn Mase dies, aged 82 June: Retires from retirement and says “Don’t call me, I will call you”. 21 September: Launched the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory and Commemoration Project Receives notebook of copies of his letters from ex-Security Policeman, Donald Card 2005 6 January: Makgatho Mandela dies. Mandela announces that he died of AIDS complications On Time Magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential People July: Launches a comic series on his life and quips “You know you are famous the day you discover you have become a comic character.” |
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