Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918.7.18~2013.12.5) was born in Transkei, South Africa. He received BA degrees from the University of South Africa and Witwaters Bar of Lander University. He served as national secretary and chairman of the ANC Youth League. He served as the president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black president and was revered as the father of the founding of South Africa.
Before becoming president, Mandela was an active anti-apartheid figure and the leader of the Spear of the Nation, the armed wing of the African National Congress. While he was leading the anti-apartheid movement, South African courts convicted him of conspiracy to overthrow the government. According to the verdict, Mandela served 27 years in prison. After being released from prison in 1990, he turned to support mediation and consultation, and stepped forward to lead South Africa during the transition period to promote multi-ethnic democracy. Since the end of apartheid, Mandela has received praise from all walks of life, including from former opponents.
Mandela has won more than 100 awards in 40 years, the most notable of which is the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. In 2004, he was voted the greatest South African.
