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Born Rolihlahla Mandela at Mvezo in the Transkei in the country South Africa.
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Attends primary school near Qunu (receives the name ‘Nelson’ from a teacher)
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Entrusted to Thembu Regent Jongintaba Dalindyebo at the age of 12 His autobiography Long Walk to Freedom says Mandela's father’s death in 1927, historical evidence shows it must have been later, most likely 1930. The original Long Walk to Freedom manuscript (written on Robben Island) states the year as 1930.
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He was expelled from Fort Hare Missionary College for organizing an anti-apartheid strike on campus.
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Begins to attend African National Congress (ANC) meetings informally
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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)
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Elected President of the ANCYL
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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
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Arrested and later joins 155 others on trial for teason. All are acquitted by 29 March 1961
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Divorces Evelyn Mase; Marries Nomzamo Winnie Madikizela – they have two daughters: Zenani (1959) and Zindzi (1960)
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Moved to Victor Verster Prison in Paarl where he is held for 14 months in a cottage. year is not known
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The ANC is banned the year is unknown but usu-med 1960-1961.
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Goes underground; Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) is formmed.
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Sentenced to five years in prison for incitement and leaving the country without a passport. date is not sertatn but before 1963.
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Leaves the country for military training and to garner support for the ANC
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Released year is not confirmed bu it was before 1993
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Returned to Pretoria Local Prison
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Pleads not guilty to sabotage in the Rivonia Trial
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Sent to Robben Island
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Arrives on Robben Island. date is not found but before 1969
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Admitted to the Volks Hospital for prostate surgery after was taken to Pollsmoor Prison
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Admitted to Tygerberg Hospital where he is diagnosed with tuberculosis
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ANC is unbanned
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Released the year is not confirmed but its before 1993.
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Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with President FW de Klerk
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Elected by Parliament as first president of a democratic South Africa year is not confirmed but before 1995
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Divorces Winnie Mandela
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Marries Graça Machel on his 80th birthday
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Diagnosed with prostate cancer
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Announces that his eldest son Makgatho had died of AIDS
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Admitted to hospital
Spends his 95th birthday in hospital
Discharged from hospital -
Passes away at home in Johannesburg