Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (also known as Madiba), a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, dropdown and the first elected in a fully representative, multiracial election. dropdown He attended Fort Hare University and the University of Witwatersrand dropdown After the Afrikaner nationalists of the National Party came to power in 1948 anddropdown a system of racial segragation, he dropdown Working as a lawyer, dropdown and, with the ANC leadership, was prosecuted in the Treason Trial from 1956 to 1961 but was found not guilty. Although initially committed to non-violent protest, he was arrested in 1962, dropdown and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial. dropdown which was granted in 1990 after 27 years of imprisonment. Becoming ANC President, dropdown F.W. de Klerk to abolish apartheid and establish multi-racial elections in 1994, in which he led the ANC to victory. dropdown As President, he established a new constitution and initiated the Truth and Reconciliation Commission dropdown , while introducing policies to encourage land reform, combat poverty and dropdown