what did Nelson Mandela do?

Question

Why is he so iconic?

Answer 1

Not an awful lot for 20 years of his life

Answer 2

Nelson Mandela as a leading member of the ANC, [African National Congress] was imprisoned for his campaign to end Apartheid in South Africa.

Nelson Mandela received massive support from all political parties in UK in particular from Labour. A constant vigil was maintained outside SA House in Trafalgar Square from the 1970s onwards.

Nelson Mandela remains one of Africa's greatest hero's and is revered throughout the whole world for his achievements.

Answer 3

Nelson Mandela (born July 18, 1918) was the first President of South Africa to be elected in fully-representative democratic elections.

Before his presidency, Mandela was a prominent anti-apartheid activist and leader of the African National Congress (ANC), and was sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage after he went underground and began the ANC's armed struggle.

Read more using this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_mandela

Answer 4

Sorry, however the link which you provided to help the ridiculous fee levied against Nelson Mandela has no credibility. Please positioned up a respected source to returned up your declare - that's the 1st time I definitely have heard some thing so outrageous and can prefer to work out the place you're starting to be this from.

Answer 5

He had a vision and sense of right and wrong. He came from simple background went on to become a lawyer and fight for legal rights, then became active in opposing the repressive South African government and its attempts to impose apartheid.
He went to prison and was not broken by this, he continued to organise and promote the ANC and worked at a personal and political level for change. For xample his prison guards had to be changed frequently because they became too friendly and sympathetic to him.
He maintained his marriage and his family, even when he was imprisoned. He was taken as a symbol that as an individual his will could not be crushed. A failing regime had eventually to bow to world pressure and release Mandella who was a political prisoner for 30 years.
He then went on to become the first black president and father of his nation. It is an inspirational story and is documented as a classic struggle in his autobiography.
Critics and some answers here fail to explain or understand why he is seen as a "great man and leader of our time"

Answer 6

He was given the death penalty but this was reduced to imprisonment in a private prison for treason against his country he was found to be in possession of guns bombs etc which were to be used to kill and maim.
After incarceration his wife took over his role and introduced the famous football team henchmen similar to Hitlers S.S where they controlled the poor black people who did not support them by making them wear "necklaces" tyres put round their necks and set alight, the last being a 14 year old schoolboy necklaced personally by Nelson Mandellas Wife of over 30 years living a life of luxury compared to the people that they were supposed to be representing .
He came out of prison 27 years later and hailed as a hero.

Answer 7

People love him because even though he suffered under an apartheid rule his vision of the future was not clouded by hate. It would have been easy for him to be resentful and he had all the excuses to be, but he rose above common prejudice to become the Gandhi of our era.

Unfortunately his followers do not share the same values and now the country is run but corrupt, racist pigs without any social responsibility; the inevitable result of power gained without merit. Zimbabwe part two.

Answer 8

Arrested and tried for treason at the famous Rivonia treason trial.
Sentenced to death but commuted to life.
In possession of guns bombs etc. Planning acts of terror.

Released after 27 years as a political prisoner after a visit by the so called eminent persons group, (included Mrs Thatcher)
Became the first 'democratically' elected president of SA. in 1994 and served 5 years before retiring.
Country has gone to hell ever since.
Another example of the results of British and US interference in another country.

Answer 9

Love him or hate him, he surely brought South Africa into the modern world. Although a terrorist (or freedom fighter) he was imprisoned for 20 years and upon his release his quiet yet determined attempts to help rid South Africa of apartheid caught the world's imagination. Regrettably, those that have followed him seem to wish for a reverse apartheid which will, inevitably and eventually, lead to serious problems within the country.

Answer 10

Before his presidency, Mandela was a prominent anti-apartheid activist and leader of the African National Congress (ANC), and was sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage after he went underground and began the ANC's armed struggle.

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Answer 11

Apart from his struggle against a legal system of apartheid, upon his release from prison he led the country of South Africa to peace and reconciliation. He is a truly remarkable man.