Filtered By: Topstories
News
Key dates in the life of Nelson Mandela
JOHANNESBURG - Key dates in the life of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela:
- July 18, 1918: Born into Thembu royal family in Mvezo village in southeastern South Africa.
- 1940: Expelled from Fort Hare University College for participating in a student strike.
- 1941: Moves to Johannesburg, becomes policeman at a mine.
- 1943: Joins the African National Congress (ANC).
- 1944: Marries Evelyn Mase, a trainee nurse.
- 1952: Opens the first black law practice in Johannesburg with Oliver Tambo.
- December 5, 1956: Is among 156 political activists arrested and charged with treason.
- 1958: Marries social worker Nomzamo Zaniewe Winifred "Winnie" Madikizela after divorcing his first wife.
- March 21, 1960: Security forces massacre 67 protesters in Sharpeville. The government bans ANC and Pan African Congress and declares state of emergency.
- 1961: Acquitted in treason trial along with co-accused.
- December 16, 1961: Launch of ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), with Mandela as commander in chief.
- August 5, 1962: Captured and sentenced on November 7 to five years in prison for inciting a strike and leaving the country illegally.
- 1963: While serving this sentence, is charged with sabotage along with other ANC activists arrested in Rivonia near Johannesburg.
- June 12, 1964: After famous speech from the dock (democracy "is an ideal for which I am prepared to die"), is sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to Robben Island prison off Cape Town.
- July 5, 1989: Meets president P.W. Botha and then on December 13 with F.W. de Klerk, who later becomes Botha's successor.
- February 11, 1990: Released from prison.
- July 5, 1991: Elected ANC president.
- April, 1992: Separates from his wife Winnie.
- October 15, 1993: Wins Nobel Peace Prize with De Klerk.
- April 27, 1994: Votes for the first time in his life in the country's first all-race elections.
- May 10, 1994: Inaugurated as president.
- July 18, 1998: Marries Graca Machel, widow of Mozambican president Samora Machel.
- 1999: Steps down as president after one term.
- June 1, 2004: Announces his retirement from public life.
- January 6, 2005: Announces that his son Makgatho had died of AIDS.
- April 19, 2009: Makes his final political address in a recorded message at an ANC election rally.
- July 11, 2010: Appears at the closing ceremony of the Football World Cup in South Africa.
- January 28, 2011: Discharged from hospital after two days of treatment for an acute respiratory infection.
- May 23, 2011: Moves to his village home in Qunu.
- December 8, 2012: Admitted to hospital in Pretoria to be treated for a lung infection and gall stones.
- December 26, 2012: Mandela is discharged from hospital.
- January 6, 2013: Doctors say Mandela has "recovered" although he continues to receive care at his home in Johannesburg.
- March 9, 2013: Admitted overnight to a Pretoria hospital for a "scheduled medical check-up." Discharged the following day after "successful" tests.
- March 27, 2013: Mandela is readmitted to hospital for a recurring lung infection which doctors say is pneumonia.
- June 8, 2013: Mandela is readmitted to hospital with a renewed lung infection and is in a "serious but stable condition," the presidency says.
- June 22: The presidency says the icon remains in a "serious but stable condition in hospital," as the US news channel CBS says that Mandela is "unresponsive" and "has not opened his eyes for days."
- 23: Mandela's condition appears to have worsened. The presidency says Mandela has been in a critical condition "over the past 24 hours."
- 25: Close family of Mandela gather at his rural homestead in Qunu.
- 26: Mandela is on life support, an elder in Mandela's clan, Napilisi Mandela, says.
- President Zuma cancels a trip to Mozambique.
- UN leader Ban Ki-moon says that the whole world is praying for Mandela, "one of the giants of the 20th century."
- Court documents filed that evening claim Mandela is in a "vegetative state" and that Mandela's doctors advised his family to turn off his life support machine, citing his perilous health.
- 27: There is relief as Zuma says that the condition of Mandela had improved overnight. He remains critical but stable.
- His daughter Makaziwe Mandela says his condition is "very critical" and "anything is imminent."
- 30: Visiting US President Barack Obama goes to Robben Island and visits the cell where Mandela spent 18 years as a political prisoner.
- A day earlier, Obama had hailed him as "an inspiration to the world" and met members of his family.
- July 5, 2013: Mandela's doctors have rejected the idea of turning off life support unless he suffers massive organ failure, a close family friend says.
- 10: The presidency reports that Mandela is "responding to treatment."
- 18: Mandela spends his 95th birthday in hospital, his health is said to be "steadily improving."
- August 24, 2013: The South African government says Mandela's health is unstable at times but he has shown "great resilience" and his condition tends to stabilise as a result of medical interventions."
- 31: The presidency denies reports Mandela has been discharged from hospital.
- September 1, 2013: Mandela is discharged from hospital and is moved to his Johannesburg home, where he will continue to receive intensive medical care.
- He "remains critical and is at times unstable" the presidency said.
- December 5: President Jacob Zuma announces the death of Mandela, aged 95.
— Agence France-Presse
Tags: nelsonmandela
More Videos
Most Popular