Guestling Bradshaw CE Primary School

Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa on 18th July 1918 and was given the name of Nelson by one of his teachers. His father Henry was a respected advisor to the Thembu royal family.

Mandela was educated at the University of Fort Hare and later at the University of Witwatersrand, qualifying in law in 1942. He became increasingly involved with the African National Congress (ANC), a multi-racial nationalist movement trying to bring about political change in South Africa.

In 1948, the National Party came to power and began to implement a policy of 'apartheid' or forced segregation on the basis of race. The ANC staged a campaign of passive resistance against apartheid laws. In 1952, Mandela became one of the ANC's deputy presidents. By the late 1950s, faced with increasing government discrimination, Mandela, his friend Oliver Tambo, and others began to move the ANC in a more radical direction. Mandela was tried for treason in 1956, but acquitted after a five-year trial.

In March 1960, sixty-nine black anti-apartheid demonstrators were killed by police at Sharpeville. The government declared a state of emergency and banned the ANC. In response, the organisation abandoned its policy of non-violence and Mandela helped establish the ANC's military wing 'Umkhonto we Sizwe' or 'The Spear of the Nation'. He was appointed its commander-in-chief and travelled abroad to receive military training and to find support for the ANC.

On his return he was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison. In 1963, Mandela and other ANC leaders were tried for plotting to overthrow the government by violence. The following year Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was held in Robben Island prison, off the coast of Cape Town, and later in Pollsmoor Prison on the mainland. During his years in prison he became an international symbol of resistance to apartheid.

In 1990, the South African government responded to internal and international pressure and released Mandela, at the same time lifting the ban against the ANC. In 1991 Mandela became the ANC's leader.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize together with FW de Klerk, then president of South Africa, in 1993. The following year South Africa held its first multi-racial election and Mandela was elected its first black president. In 1998, he was married for the third time to Graça Machel, the widow of the president of Mozambique. Mandela's second wife, Winnie, whom he married in 1958 and divorced in 1996, remains a controversial anti-apartheid activist. In 1997 he stepped down as ANC leader and in 1999 his presidency of South Africa came to an end.

Mandela continued to support a variety of causes, particularly the fight against HIV-Aids. In 2004, Mandela announced he would be retiring from public life and his public appearances became less and less frequent.

After suffering from a prolonged respiratory infection, Mandela died on 5 December 2013 at the age of 95. He died at at his home in Johannesburg, surrounded by his family. The following day, President Zuma announced a national mourning period of ten days and declared Sunday 8 December a national day of prayer and reflection. A state funeral was held for Mandela (in the same way we might for a king or queen) on 15 December.

In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly declared 18th July – Nelson Mandela's birthday – as International Nelson Mandela Day, to celebrate the legacy of South Africa's Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former President. The adoption of this resolution is a significant historical moment. It is the first time that the UN has designated an international day in honour of one person.

By adopting the resolution, General Assembly President Ali Treki said the international community was expressing its appreciation for "a great man" who suffered for the sake of people everywhere.

Following the success of 46664’s – 90th birthday celebrations in London’s Hyde Park in June 2008, it was decided that there could be nothing more fitting than to celebrate Mandela’s birthday each year with a day dedicated to his life’s work and that of his charitable organisations .

Drawing its name from Nelson Mandela's Robben Island prison number, 46664 was founded in 2002. To date, the 46664 campaign has raised millions of dollars for supporting projects in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa where current needs are deemed greatest, particularly in assisting those infected or affected by HIV or AIDS.

The Mandela Day campaign message is simple: Nelson Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. All it is asking is that everyone gives 67 minutes of their time, whether it’s supporting their chosen charity or serving their local community. The message for Mandela Day is for all people to recalibrate their value systems; to take a look around them and to do good.