The Great leader,Nelson Mandela.

 Nelson Mandela is Known for Anti-Apartheid Movement. Nelson Mandela was the first black President of South Africa. He spent 27 years in prison for trying to overthrow the pro-apartheid government. After he left prison, he worked to achievehuman rights and a better future for everyone in South Africa.
Rolihlahla Mandela was born on 18 July 1918. He was born in the Transkei, part of South Africa. The Transkei has mountains, valleys and grasslands called savannas. On a map, you can find it in the southeast (bottom right) corner of South Africa.
Mandela's father Henry was a chief of the Tembu people. His mother was Nosekeni Fanny. The Mandelas were related to the Tembu royal family.
When Nelson was 9, his father died. He was looked after by Jongintaba Dalindyebo, who was regent (acting chief) of the Tembu.
Nelson went to a mission school, and then to college. He attended primary school in Qunu where his teacher Miss Mdingane gave him the name Nelson, in accordance with the custom to give all school children “Christian” names.
 He was good at school work. He also enjoyed boxing and running. At Fort Hare University, he studied law. One of his friends there was Oliver Tambo. Nelson left the university in 1939, after student protests about the way it was run. He completed his Junior Certificate at Clarkebury Boarding Institute and went on to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school of some repute, where he matriculated.
Nelson Mandela began his studies for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University College of Fort Hare but did not complete the degree there as he was expelled for joining in a student protest.
He completed his BA through the University of South Africa and went back to Fort Hare for his graduation in 1943. In 1944 he married Walter Sisulu’s cousin Evelyn Mase, a nurse. They had two sons, Madiba Thembekile ‘Thembi’ and Makgatho and two daughters both called Makaziwe, the first of whom died in infancy. They effectively separated in 1955 and divorced in 1958.
Nelson Mandela became famous for his long fight against bad government andracial prejudice. He became a hero to people all over the world. As South Africa's President, he was respected for his courage and wisdom in bringing people together to live in peace.
Most South Africans are black. There are also people of European and Asian backgrounds, and people of mixed race.
Dutch people set up the first whitecolony in South Africa in 1652. Later British settlers came. Dutch farmers called themselves 'Boers', from a Dutch word meaning 'farmers'. They spoke a language called Afrikaans. Most other white settlers spoke English. Black people spoke Bantu languages such as isiNdebele and isiZulu.
Britain and South Africa
Britain took over the Dutch colony in 1815. South Africa became part of theBritish Empire. Gold was found in 1886. With gold and good farmland, the country was rich.
But it was not peaceful. Whites and blacks fought over the land. There were wars between the Boers and the British. The Boers wanted their own country. When Mandela was growing up, black people had little say in how South Africa was run. The government was whites-only. Most black people were poor. They worked as servants. They worked on farms, and in factories and gold mines.
In 1944, Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress or ANC. The ANC wanted black South Africans to have the same human rights as whites.
In 1948, the South African government made new laws to keep white people and black people apart. The new system was called 'apartheid' What was apartheid?
Apartheid (say A-PART-HITE) forced white and non-white people to live in separate areas. Non-white people meant black people, people from Asia and people of mixed race.
A white person and a black person could not marry. Black people and white people could not share a table in a restaurant, or sit together on a bus. Black children and white children went to different schools. Sports teams were all-white or all-black, never mixed.
Mandela makes a stand
Mandela and Oliver Tambo set up South Africa's first black law firm. Poor people came to them for help.
Mandela led young people in the ANC. Many white people, as well as black people, spoke out against apartheid. Mandela admired Gandhi, who had used peaceful protest in India. Perhaps peaceful protest could get rid of apartheid, without fighting?
But to speak out was dangerous. In 1956, Mandela and 155 other people were arrested for treason. After a trial lasting five years, he was set free in 1961. What happened at Sharpeville? 
In 1960, people held a demonstrationagainst apartheid at Sharpeville, near Johannesburg. The police shot dead 69 black people. The government blamed the ANC, and banned it.
Mandela became leader of a secret army, known as Umkhonto we Sizwe or 'Spear of the Nation'. He was hunted by the police, and had to hide and use disguises. He travelled to other countries to ask for help.
In 1961 South Africa left theCommonwealth. Millions of people in other countries supported the anti-apartheid movement. Many nations stopped trade with South Africa. Sports teams and entertainers refused to go there.
Still the government refused to change. In 1962, Nelson Mandela was arrested again. He was accused of sabotageand plotting to overthrow the government. In 1964, aged 46, he was given a life sentence.
Mandela was sent to the prison on Robben Island. Other ANC leaders in prison there included Walter Sisulu. Oliver Tambo had left South Africa to live abroad.
Mandela spent 18 years on Robben Island. He had to do hard labour. He was allowed one visitor every 6 months. He was later moved to another prison.
Mandela became the most famous prisoner in the world. He did not give up. Even the prison guards admired him.
At last, in 1988, the South African government began to make changes. One change was to let black students into 'white' universities. From around the world, the calls got louder. Free Nelson Mandela!
In 1990, South Africa's new President FW de Klerk set Nelson Mandela free. Mandela and de Klerk agreed: no more fighting. Mandela called on all South Africans to work together in peace.
Mandela becomes President
In 1991, Mandela became leader of the ANC. In the 1994 elections, all black people in South Africa were able to vote for the first time. The ANC won the election. A new government took over. In May 1994, Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first black president.

.Mandela and South African President F.W. de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to dismantle the country's apartheid system.  In 2009, Mandela's birthday (July 18) was declared "Mandela Day" to promote global peace and celebrate the South African leader's legacy. He acquire Bharat Ratna (1990),Nobel Peace Prize (1993),Order of Lenin, Presidential Medal of Freedom etc. Mandela died at his home in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013, at age 95.