The Noble Peace Prize Man

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela played a major role in South Africa's battle for independence. He was an ANC (Africa National Congress) leader ever since the 1950's, when he first joined (B). During the years that South Africa was under apartheid policies, many members of anti-apartheid organizations, like the ANC or the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) were severely punished. Mandela was captured at thrown into prison, but was finally released in 1990, when F.W. de Klerk ended apartheid and allowed these organizations to run again (B). When the people of South Africa voted for their country's first ever democratic government in April 1994, Mandela was inaugurated the following month (B). With his country's support, he was the first legitimate president of South Africa! He worked hard to make South Africa a peaceful environment where people of different ethnic backgrounds could live in harmony. In 1993, Mandela and F.W. de Klerk were awarded with a Noble Peace Prize for their constant efforts to end the apartheid policies and for providing South Africa with hope for future generations (E).