Nelson Mandela's Effect on South Africa

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be on the U.S Terror Watch List for more than 20 years and then be elected as your country’s president a year after you are removed from this list? This is what Nelson Mandela went through for many years of his life. Although many people have changed the face of government throughout the world, Nelson Mandela had had a huge impact on South Africa’s government system because of his childhood, prison life, and his presidency.
Mandela had a very normal childhood compared to the rest of the kids in his country. Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 to mother Nonquaphi Nosekeni and father Nkosi Mphakanyishwa Gadla Mandela. His father died when he was only 12 years old but that did not stop from continuing his dream of making his own improvement to the freedom struggle of his people. Mandela attended primary school in Qunu where his teacher Miss Midingame gave him the name “Nelson” as a custom of giving all students English names. Nelson completed his Junior Certificate at Clarkbury Boarding Institute and Healdtown, a secondary school, where he performed well on boxing and track as well and academics. Mandela then married Evelyn Ntokomase and had four children; they got a divorce in 1957. He then went on the University of Fort Hare where he began studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree. Unfortunately, Mandela did not complete this degree due to being expelled for protesting. He then enrolled at the University of South Africa where he completed his Bachelor’s degree and went back to Fort Hare in 1943 for graduation. When he returned to the Great Place, the king was furious and threatened to arrange wives for him and his cousin to marry if he did not return to Fort Hare. He ...

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... then married his third wife Graca Machel on his 80th birthday in 1998. Mandela stepped down after one term of presidency in 1999 and set up the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund in 1995. He also established the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Mandela Rhodes Foundation. Mandela’s grandson then became the head of the Mvezo Traditional Court in April of 2007. Overall, Nelson was a very inspiring president who always wanted to do the right thing.
Because of his childhood, prison life, and presidency, Nelson Mandela has had a huge impact on South Africa’s government system. Sadly, Mandela passed away on December 5, 2013 from a lung infection. The United Nations declared July 18 “Nelson Mandela International Day.” Even though Mandela was faced with racism and cruelty, he never answered racism with racism and was an inspiration to all who are oppressed and deprived.

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