But he understood that as a leader and symbol, he must always project forgiveness, and he never ever failed to do so. He understood that while it was impossible to truly forget the past, we must relinquish its hold over us.
In , I remember driving with him to what would be his office in the Union Buildings in Pretoria, which had been the seat of the old apartheid government. As you drive into the imposing complex, you pass a foot-high statue of J. Hertzog who was the prime minister of South Africa in the s. Mandela smiled at it as we passed. In , the statue of Hertzog was moved to a remote part of the grounds and replaced by an enormous bronze statue of Nelson Mandela with his arms raised in triumph.
Contact us at letters time. Anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela arriving to address a mass rally, a few days after his release from jail, on Feb. By Richard Stengel. TIME Ideas hosts the world's leading voices, providing commentary on events in news, society, and culture. We welcome outside contributions. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors. Related Stories. Greta Thunberg's Diary: 6 Months on the Road. Already a print subscriber?
Go here to link your subscription. Need help? Visit our Help Center. Go here to connect your wallet. On 21 March police killed 69 unarmed people in a protest in Sharpeville against the pass laws. Mandela and his colleagues in the Treason Trial were among thousands detained during the state of emergency.
During the trial Mandela married a social worker, Winnie Madikizela, on 14 June They had two daughters, Zenani and Zindziswa. The couple divorced in Days before the end of the Treason Trial, Mandela travelled to Pietermaritzburg to speak at the All-in Africa Conference, which resolved that he should write to Prime Minister Verwoerd requesting a national convention on a non-racial constitution, and to warn that should he not agree there would be a national strike against South Africa becoming a republic.
After he and his colleagues were acquitted in the Treason Trial, Mandela went underground and began planning a national strike for 29, 30 and 31 March. In the face of massive mobilisation of state security the strike was called off early. In June he was asked to lead the armed struggle and helped to establish Umkhonto weSizwe Spear of the Nation , which launched on 16 December with a series of explosions.
He travelled around Africa and visited England to gain support for the armed struggle. He was charged with leaving the country without a permit and inciting workers to strike. He was convicted and sentenced to five years' imprisonment, which he began serving at the Pretoria Local Prison. Within a month police raided Liliesleaf, a secret hideout in Rivonia, Johannesburg, used by ANC and Communist Party activists, and several of his comrades were arrested.
On 9 October Mandela joined 10 others on trial for sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial. While facing the death penalty his words to the court at the end of his famous "Speech from the Dock" on 20 April became immortalised:. Goldberg was sent to Pretoria Prison because he was white, while the others went to Robben Island. He was not allowed to attend their funerals. Kathrada joined them in October. When he returned to the prison in November after prostate surgery, Mandela was held alone.
Justice Minister Kobie Coetsee visited him in hospital. Later Mandela initiated talks about an ultimate meeting between the apartheid government and the ANC.
Pumla's home is littered with photos of her great-grandad. There's one with him and her when she was in primary school and there's another with her family and Michelle Obama. She's missed out on some of those big moments though. I missed out on meeting a lot of people - like Beyonce.
I will never actually forgive her for that one. As for now, Pumla has a job working for a tech start-up company in Johannesburg. Listen to Newsbeat live at and weekdays - or listen back here. Siya Kolisi wants change for South Africa. How cricket and Love Island are coupling up. People across South Africa lit candles to mark Nelson Mandela's funeral in Image source, Getty Images.
What does Pumla think her great-grandfather would make of his country today? Image source, AFP.
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