One of the Greatest Leaders: Nelson Mandela

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Nelson Mandela is one of the greatest ethical and political leaders in recent history. Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to the fight against the racial oppression of the apartheid regime in South Africa. In doing so, he became the first democratically chosen black president of South Africa. Nelson Mandela’s life is a blue print for the development of a leader who fought against discrimination and aimed to build fairness and justice, and by doing so, acquired the ultimate achievement: equality for South Africa.
Nelson Mandela’s was born in July, 1918 in a small village in South Africa called Qunu, in the Transkei province. His name, Nelson, was given to him during his first day in school at the age of seven. At the time, he was the first of his family to get an education, but African students were given british names. The education in African schools was all related to british culture and thought. Nelson believed that British life was the reigning culture outside of his tribal life. Before Nelson went to school, he grew up in an African tribe; he was born into the tribal clan called Madiba. The clan is part of the Thembu people and a Xhosas speaking community. When Nelson was nine years old his father, who was a tribal chief, passed away and Nelson became the foster son of the paramount Thembu chief, the Regent. The Regent and his family trained Nelson for leadership. Nelson was being groomed to be an advisor to the future tribal chief when he became older. He was influenced by the trials he saw in his tribe led by the chief. Being raised in the traditional African tribal culture protected him from racial discrimination, and later on being confronted with the prejudice apartheid regime in the world outside the clan; it influenced...

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...ellent policies, 5) the Constitution had come into existence through the working together of various groups that had composed South Africa, 6) South Africa's political and economic institutions are well established, 7) and that South Africa is by far the most developed country in Africa. However, there are still avenues that can impede further progress, more so economically then politically. Primarily the lack of foreign investment, especially when South Africa's gold and diamond reserves are emptied as other parts of economy are not as developed. Secondly, the economic gap between whites and blacks that was stretched during the time of apartheid needs to be tightened or else it could become dangerous to the stability of the political system. However, due to the leadership of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s current government structure exists to solve these issues.

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