Nelson Mandela and South Africa

Nelson Mandela

Nelson (Rolihahla) Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Madiba clan in the village of Mvezo, Transkei. He was the first man in his family who receive formal education. He attended the Clarkebury Boarding Institute and Headtown, a Methodist secondary school.

In 1939, he went to University of Fort Hare which was the only Western-style university in South Africa. He studied law at the University of Witwatersrand where he got involved in the movement against racial discrimination. In 1944 Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC). ANC is the Republic of South Africa’s governing social democratic political party.

In 1952 Mandela and his first wife Tambo opened South Africa’s first law firm offered free and low cost legal counsel to those whose affected by apartheid legislation. In 1952 Nelson Mandela helped ANC’s campaign for the Defiance of Unjust laws. He travelled across the country to organize a protest against discriminatory policies. On December 5, 1956 Mandela and 155 other activist arrested and went on a trail. They have been accused of being traitors. All of the defendants were acquitted in 1961 but the tension within the ANC grows.

On 21 March 1960 the police opened fire to black protestants in Sharpeville killed 69 people This led government to bend ANC and Pan Africanist Congress on 8 April. In 1961 Mandela co-founded and became the first leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe (“Spear of the Nation”) also known as MK. Under Mandela’s leadership MK sabotage campaign against government. They declared South Africa republic and withdrawn from British Commonwealth.

In January 1962, Mandela traveled abroad illegally to attend a conference of African nationalist leaders in Ethiopia. He also visited England to gain support for the armed struggle. After his return on August 5 he was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison. The police found evidence that MK did the sabotage and he was sentenced to life prison in Rivonia Trial. He stayed in prison for 27 years. President FW Klerk ordered his release on February 11, 1990.

After his release Nelson Mandela led the ANC to negotiate with with governing National Party and other South African political organization to end to apartheid system. He also wanted to establish multiracial government. On May 10 Mandela became the first black president in South Africa. As president Mandela establish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He investigate human rights and political violations. He ended apartheid system in South Africa. He also introduced social and economic programs designed to improve strands of South African population.

In 1996 Mandela established new South African constitution which is based on strong central government and prohibits discrimination against minorities, including whites. During his presidency he formed multiracial “ Government of National Unity” He said that the country a “rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.” After Nelson Mandela was retired he remind devoted to peace and social justice in his country and all around the world. He established number of organizations such as Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Elders. He died on December 5, 2013.

Inequalities in South Africa and Apartheid System

The term apartheid comes from Afrikaans which means separateness. Apartheid system enforced by National Party government in South Africa from 1948 to 1944.Nelson Mandela ended the apartheid system in South Africa. Under apartheid system South Africa were divided into groups according to their races: whites, blacks, colored and Indians\Asian. About 80% of the population was black, 9% white,9% colored and 2% Indian\Asian. In apartheid system whites were in power. Apartheid systemseparates whites from other races. In apartheid system whites govern the country. The other races are bended to vote, to go to the same public places with whites. In addition to these, other races have different schools. Apartheid discriminates blacks, colored, Indian/Asians from whites. Nelson Mandela ended this system in South Africa. He believed everyone should have equal rights. He was against discrimination and fought to stop discrimination all his life in South Africa and all around the world.

GINI index or GINI Coefficient is a measure of statistical dispersion. It represents income distribution of nation’s residence. It is commonly used for measure inequalities. South Africa has the world’s highest GINI index, it is between 0.63 to 0.7. Although, after apartheid system there are still some inequalities between population in South Africa.

Unequal Economic Conditions

South Africa has the highest high unemployment rates. Most of the population of unemployment are women and black. This is because of the apartheid system. They never get a chance to get education and they always been underestimated. Since blacks never get a higher education, they have very limited job opportunities. Mandela ended the apartheid system. After this most white people have higher incomes. Poor and less educated affected negatively when the apartheid system ended.They lost their job protection and the inequality between whites has grown. The graphic blow shows the unequal incomes according to the raises and the whites in come rates much more than others races’s income in South Africa. In times black people’s income raised.

South African Mining Industry

South Africa has been the main mining force thorough out history. South Africa has very rich mining sources such as; gold and diamond. Unfortunately, working conditions are very dangerous. Mining industry contributed the South Africa’s economy. Some local asstes sold to black South Africans.