Mandela Reflection

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Education
Living in the house of Jongintaba and being awarded the same chieftaincy, Mandela soon became captivated with the idea of holding court and exercising the highest ideals of power. While listening to the court elders, Mandela first gained knowledge of Robben Island – a place of exile and demise for the Xhosa speaking tribes. The island was located 400miles off the coast of Cape Town and served as an imprisonment camp during the white settlement and British rule. The heroic chief stories of Robben Island sparked a curiosity for deviance and bravery within Mandela, launching his idea of resistance towards opposition.
As if the nostalgic heroism of Thembu history hadn’t impacted Mandela’s young developing mind enough, Wesleyan Methodist …show more content…

After surgery to correct an enlarged prostate, he was moved to a solitary cell. With escalating tensions in South Africa, President Botha feared civil war would ensue. Despite talks with Mandela to surrender violence for his freedom, Mandela denied them to serve out his sentence. A decade after his honorary doctorates, on his 70th birthday, London held a Mandela Tribute Concert. Regardless of his heroic status around the globe, Winnie started a criminal gang that tortured and killed opponents. The ANC was displeased and sought Mandela’s divorce from Winnie, something Mandela refused to do.
After contracting tuberculosis, Mandela was moved once more in 1988 to Victor Verster Prison. Here he would recover from his illness and meet with the ailing Botha over tea. Replacing Botha, just 6 weeks later, was de Klerk whom believed apartheid was unsuccessful and called for the legalization of the ANC and the release of its members being held prisoner. February 2, 1990 Nelson Mandela was issued an unconditional release from …show more content…

His inauguration was held in Pretoria on May 10 1994 and televised around the world. In 1995 he officially divorced Winnie and shortly after became involved with Graca Machel – another political activist. During his presidency, Mandela saw the end of apartheid to a more multicultural democracy. He formed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in order to investigate the atrocities from apartheid movements – appointing Desmond Tutu as its chair.
Mandela created domestic programs such as increased welfare for hardships, free healthcare for children under 6 years of age and pregnant women (which was extended to all by 1996). He also ensured numerous acts were enacted: Land Restitution Act 1994, Land Reform Act (3) 1996, Skills Development Act 1998, Labor Relations Act 1995, Basic Conditions of Employment Act 1997, and the Equal Equity Act

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