Nelson Mandela Foundation

1925

Attends primary school near Qunu (receives the name ‘Nelson’ from a teacher)

The English name 'Nelson' means 'Son of a Champion'.

Qunu is a small rural village in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. In his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela describes Qunu as where he spent the happiest moments of his childhood.

"My experiences in the veld where we worked and played together in groups introduced me at an early age to the ideas of collective effort."

1927

Entrusted to Thembu Regent Jongintaba Dalindyebo

Nelson Mandela's father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was the chief "by blood and custom" of Mvezo, a position confirmed by the paramount chief of the Thembu, Jongintaba Dalindyebo. After his death in 1930, young Nelson was entrusted to Chief Dalindyebo.

1934	Undergoes initiation; Attends Clarkebury Boarding Institute in Engcobo

1937	Nelson Mandela pictured here in a school photograph, which is regarded as the earliest known image of Mr Mandela. He appears in the back row, fifth from right. Attends Healdtown, the Wesleyan College at Fort Beaufort

1939

Enrols at the University College of Fort Hare, in Alice

In a letter to his eldest daughter Maki Mandela, Nelson Mandela writes: "As you know I was baptised in the Methodist Church and was educated in Wesleyan schools - Clarkebury, Healdtown and at Fort Hare. I stayed at Wesley House. At Fort Hare I even became a Sunday school teacher."

1940	Expelled Both Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo were expelled from Fort Hare in 1940 for political activism.

1941	Escapes an arranged marriage; becomes a mine night watchman; Starts articles at the law firm Witkin, Sidelsky & Eidelman

1942	Completes BA through the University of South Africa (UNISA)

1943	University of Fort Hare. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons Graduates with BA from Fort Hare; Enrols for an LLB at Wits University

1944

Makaziwe Mandela. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons

Co-founds the ANC Youth League (ANCYL); marries Evelyn Ntoko Mase – they have four children: Thembekile (1945); Makaziwe (1947 – who dies after nine months); Makgatho (1950); Makaziwe (1954)

1948	Elected national secretary of the ANCYL

1952

Defiance Campaign begins; Arrested and charged for violating the Suppression of Communism Act; Elected Transvaal ANC President; Convicted with J.S Moroka, Walter Sisulu and 17 others under the Suppression of Communism Act; Sentenced to nine months imprisonment with hard labour, suspended for two years; Elected first of ANC deputy presidents; Opens South Africa’s first black law firm with Oliver Tambo

1953	Devises the M-Plan for the ANC’s future underground operations Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo initiated the M-plan (M for Mandela), a strategy where the ANC would be broken down into cells so that it could continue to operate, if necessary, underground.

1955	Watches as the Congress of the People at Kliptown launches the Freedom Charter

1958	Divorces Evelyn Mase; Marries Nomzamo Winnie Madikizela – they have two daughters: Zenani (1959) and Zindzi (1960)

1960	On 21 March 1960, 69 peaceful protesters were killed by the South African police at Sharpeville. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons 21 March Sharpeville Massacre

1960	30 March A State of Emergency imposed and he is among thousands detained

1961	Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), "Spear of the Nation", was the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), co-founded by Nelson Mandela. Goes underground; Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) is formed

1962	11 January Leaves the country for military training and to garner support for the ANC

1962	A monument at the capture site in Howick. Courtesy South Africa Tourism 5 August Arrested near Howick in KwaZulu-Natal; Sentenced to five years for incitement and leaving the country illegally

1963	Robben Island South Africa. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons 27 May Sent to Robben Island

1963	12 June Returned to Pretoria Local Prison

1963

Nelson Mandela here with fellow Rivonia trialists Ahmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni and Denis Goldberg. Centre of Memory ©

October

Charged for sabotage in the Rivonia trial with nine others, namely Walter Sisulu, Denis Goldberg, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada, Lionel "Rusty" Bernstein, Raymond Mhlaba, James Kantor, Elias Motsoaledi and Andrew Mlangeni

1964

The last page of his speech from the dock, which ends with the phrase "I am prepared to die". Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory ©

11 June:

All except Rusty Bernstein and James Kantor are convicted and sentenced (June 12) to life

1969	Nelson Mandela pictured here with his eldest son. 13 July Madiba Thembekile Mandela, Nelson Mandela's eldest son, is killed in a car accident

1982	Badges call for the release of Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory © 31 March Mr Mandela, Sisulu, Raymond Mhlaba and Andrew Mlangeni and later Ahmed Kathrada are sent to Pollsmoor Prison

1985	3 November Has prostate surgery

1988

Nelson Mandela kept a series of desk calendars throughout his incarceration.

He recorded information in these calendars, while he was in hospital in 1988, first in Tygerberg Hospital and then in Constantiaberg MediClinic, being treated for tuberculosis.

12 August

Admitted to Tygerberg Hospital and is diagnosed with Tuberculosis

1988	31 August Admitted to Constantiaberg MediClinic

1988	7 December On 7 December Nelson Mandela was transferred to Victor Verster Prison in Paarl. He was held for 14 months in a cottage until he was released on 11 February 1990.

1990	Walking out of prison with his wife Winnie Mandela 11 February On 11 February 1990 Nelson Mandela was finally released

1990	2 March Elected ANC Deputy President

1993	The Nobel Peace Prize 1993 was awarded jointly to Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk "for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa". Courtesy SABC 10 December Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with FW de Klerk

1994	Luke Dollimore © 27 April Votes for the first time in his life

1994	Ma Albertina Sisulu nominating Nelson Mandela for President of the Republic of South Africa, 1994 9 May Elected by Parliament as first president of a democratic South Africa

1994	10 May Inaugurated as President of the Republic of South Africa

1994	14 December Launches his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom

1995	Establishes the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund

1996	Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons Divorces Winnie Mandela

1998	18 July Marries Graça Machel on his 80th birthday

1999	Establishes the Nelson Mandela Foundation

2001	Diagnosed with prostate cancer

2003	Establishes the Mandela Rhodes Foundation

2004	Nelson Mandela speaking about the transition to and the importance of the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory 1 June Announces that he will be stepping down from public life

2005	6 January Announces that his eldest son Makgatho had died of AIDS

2007	Witnesses the installation of his grandson Mandla as chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council

2008	Turns 90 years old, asks future generations to continue the fight for social justice

2009	Nelson Mandela celebrating his 91 birthday. Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory © Votes for the fourth time in his life; Attends the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma on May 9 and witnesses Zuma's first State of the Nation address; Turns 91

2010	Image © Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory Is formally presented with the Fifa World Cup trophy before it embarks on a tour of South Africa

2010	11 June Mr Mandela's great-granddaughter Zenani is killed in a car accident

2010	Nelson Mandela and Graca Machel at the funeral. Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory © 17 June Attends the funeral of his great-granddaughter, Zenani

2010	July Celebrates his 92nd birthday at home in Johannesburg with family and friends

2010	A video message from Nelson Mandela prior to the kick off of the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa. 11 July Makes a surprise appearance at the Final of the Fifa World Cup in Soweto

2010

October:

His second book Conversations with Myself is released

2010

18 November:

Meets the South African and American football teams that played in the Mandela Challenge match

2011	Mandela on TV for first time since illness. Published by sabcdigitalnews January Is admitted to hospital in Johannesburg where he was diagnosed with a chest infection. He is discharged after two nights

2011	16 May Votes in the local government elections

2011	Mandela reads his book. Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory © June His book Nelson Mandela By Himself: The Authorised Book of Quotations is released

2011	Image © Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory 21 June Is visited at home by American First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha and Malia

2011	Bra Hugh Masekela wishing Nelson Mandela a very happy birthday and wedding anniversary 18 July Celebrates his 93rd birthday with his family in Qunu, Eastern Cape

2011	Nelson Mandela pictured here with Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela and Statistician-General Pali Lehohla. © Oryx Media 21 October Is officially counted in South Africa’s Census 2011

2011	December Spends Christmas with family in Qunu

2012	25 February Admitted to hospital for abdominal complaint. Discharged after one night

2012	Grandchildren wishing Nelson Mandela a happy 94th birthday at his home in Qunu. Image copyright: Peter Morey Photographic (www.petermoreyphotographic.co.za) 18 July Celebrates his 94th birthday with his family in Qunu, Eastern Cape

2012	8 December Is admitted to hospital

2012	26 December Is discharged from hospital

- Facebook
- Twitter
- Google +

Centre of Memory

About us

Life & Times of Nelson Mandela

Dialogue for Justice

Mini-sites