Nelson Mandela: A Critical Analysis of Leadership (1952-1964)

This essay provides an analysis of Nelson Mandela's activities and impact in South Africa between January 1, 1952, and July 1, 1964. It covers key events such as his involvement in the defiance campaign, his role in the African National Congress (ANC), the treason trial, and his travels across Africa t...Read More

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Topic: ‘'Nelson Mandela'' with a date range of January 1, 1952, to July 1, 1964
Introduction
In the discussion, I have analysed the historical events which occurred at the reign of Nelson
Mandela. The article used describes the events which occurred from 1952 to 1962, it also
includes the key themes, quotations and the significance of Nelson Mandela as a leader in
South Africa. Nelson Mandela was born in 1918 in Mvezo village in the Eastern Cape.
Nelson Mandela grew with an attitude of bringing changes wherever he goes1.When he was
12 years old he enjoyed listening to stories of his ancestor's valour which described the wars
experienced in different parts of Africa. Because of these stories, Nelson Mandela dreamed to
induce a change and fight for the freedom in South Africa. Nelson started primary education
in Qunu School where his teacher gave him the name Nelson. He later attended his tertiary
education at the University of Fort Hare where he perused the Bachelor of Arts.
Important historical events and issues.
In order to describe historical events which occurred at the reign of Nelson Mandela, the
discussion emphasizes those events which started from January 1, 1952, to July 1, 1964.2 The
time range shows those events which were done by Nelson Mandela in South Africa. Some of
the events which occurred at the time range include;
Increased defiance campaign and Transvaal for the presidency in ANC.
In January 1952 Mandela rejected the Lembedes Africanism. The idea of Africanism was on
the multi-racial front which was against the apartheid in South Africa. The movement was
supported by Moses Kotane who emphasized on liberation. In April 1952, Mandela started
working at the HM Basnar law firm which by that time was owned by the communism. This
1 Barbarin, Oscar & Linda M, Growing up in post-apartheid South Africa,113.
2 Beresford. "Nelson Mandela and the politics of South Africa's unfinished liberation,304
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meant that Mandela lacked adequate time to spend with his family. After working for a few
months, the ANC started a campaign which was against the apartheid in South Africa. The
movement collaborated with Indian and communist groups so to recruit individual which
were to provide different services in the movement. There were some people who supported
the campaign but Mandela interpreted the analogy as the pragmatic. On June 22, Mandela
started addressing people to resist the apartheid movement, unfortunately, he was later
arrested and interned in Marshall Square prison.3The event made Mandela as the champion
for Africa. In July 1952, Mandela was charged with statutory communism meaning that he
was one of the leaders in South Africa who were against the apartheid movement. In
September 1953 Mandela and Andrew Kunene initiated a movement which emphasized on
freedom in South Africa. Mandela together with Andrew Kunene addressed their grievances
to the Indian president who later banned the ANC. In August 1953, Mandela together with
Tampo opened their own law firm.
Treason trial and Congress of people from 1955 to 1961.
In 1955, Mandela came up with the motion which emphasized reducing the violation action
form the apartheid movement and reduced minority rules from the reign of white. Through
this, the South African Indian Congress called for the creation of a democratic and increased
aspect of nationalism.4 The main concern in 1955 was to eradicate the issue of racism in
South Africa. In 1956, Mandela was arrested for treason against the South Africa country.
Mandela was accused of being involved in High treason cases before undergoing a number of
the trial to prove guilt. The case began in 1957 all through to 1958 when the prosecutor
3 Broun,The Rivonia Trial and the Fate of South Africa,112.
4 Gade,Different interpretations among South Africans of African descent, 484-503.
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Oswald Pirow was elected to handle the case.5 The leader advocated that Mandela was guilty
since he was involved in violent revolution a case which he seriously denied in the court. In
April 1959, there was the movement which formed the Pan African Congress which
advocated for racial exclusives in South Africa. In March 1961, South Africa has declared a
republic through the assistance of Mandela.
African tour and the MK, the SACP in 1961-1962.
Mandela travelled around South Africa addressing the new structure of ANC in the country.
Mandela organized a number of meetings which he used to cooperate with reporters and
another governmental official in the country.6 Mandela warned the anti-apartheid movements
and indicated to them on the negative effects they induced in South Africa. After addressing
people on liberation, Mandela later was sent as a delegate by ANC to a meeting which
incorporated Pan African Movement in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. Mandela met with Haile
Selassie 1 and later went to Egypt.
The Rivonia trial and arrest from 1962 to 1964.
On August 1962, Mandela was arrested with some of the leaders such as Cecil Williams.
Mandela together with Cecil was accused of inciting workers to strike and migrate from
South Africa without any reason. Mandela defied the case and he was later released in
December 1962. After the incidence, Mandela was also arrested in 1963 when he was
accused of trying to overthrow the government in South Africa. He succeeded in the court
5 Harris, "Jacques Derrida meets Nelson Mandela: archival ethics at the endgame,113.
6 Hibbert, Liesel,& Christa, Multilingual universities in South Africa: reflecting society in
higher education,106.
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and won the case since there was no adequate evidence. Later, in 1964 Mandela was accused
of having initiated guerrilla warfare and this time the court tried to call for the death sentence.
The court remanded for the death sentence but the judge who was handling the case instead
called for life imprisonment.
Quotes
“It always seems impossible until its done”
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”
Key themes and significance of Nelson Mandela
Some of his existing autobiographical genres represent one of a kind attributes which none-
the-less don't decrease its value as an imaginative work. It is on this quality that this
examination endeavors a scholarly investigation of Nelson Mandela's personal history Long
Walk to Freedom; exploring how the plot is built to show and decipher the theme of fighting
for freedom.7 The investigation analyzes how Mandela extends in the collection of memoirs
his individual job in the battle, as well as the job of all the mistreated.
The main theme available in Nelson life was a courageous belief that one particular person
can contribute to various changes in the existing course of history for the improvement of the
entire society.8
Other themes revolved around the following:
7 Joffe, The Trial that Changed South Africa, 214.
8 Manasa et al Primary drug resistance in South Africa: data from 10 years of surveys,558
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 Clear vision, clear methodology
 Carry out action, motivate change
He clearly acknowledged that strong apartheid rule evident in his country throughout his
entire 75 years of life, depicts that it would not eradicate the use of guerrilla warfare, various
revolutions and popular uprising strategies. During his time in prison, he came to view this
aspect as a key expression of both weakness and insecurity of whit individuals and Afrikaners
in general. He, therefore, had to fight for the human rights and fair treatment of the inferior
individual in the society. Mandela understood that fear, as opposed to inflexible bigotry or
racism aspects, lay behind their resistance to the existing dark people majority rule. The way
to freeing South Africa of the devilish ridiculousness of racial isolation was, to convince
whites that democracy based system was to their greatest advantage as much as the dark
dominant part, and to demonstrate that they would be protected without politically-sanctioned
racial segregation and without the vital interest of apartheid domain.
He was significant in Fighting for social equity. This serene and peaceful accomplishment of
majority rules system as utilization of democratic rights contributed to vital Mandela's
landmark. This saved the country from sinking into advanced conflicts. 9This indicates that he
was quite an indispensable man and much respected. Advocated for peace and livelihood. His
main aim was to promote peaceful and harmonious coexistence as well as importing the
stands of living in the society through maximized utilization of resources. He fought for equal
chances in the employment sector.10
9 Marais, The political economy of change,412.
10 Saul, John & Patrick Bond. South Africa--the Present as History: From Mrs Ples to
Mandela & Marikana,44.
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Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to the administration of service delivery humankind — as
a human rights legal advisor, a detainee of an inner voice, a worldwide peacemaker and the
principal justly chosen leader of a free South Africa.
Mandela gave administration to other people and dependably needed to make a superior
world for everybody. His commendable work led to the celebration of Mandela's day. In this
particular event, individuals discover injustice acts in the area, city or state and do everything
to help reduce them. People volunteer to work in various fields to help achieve common
freedoms for everybody. Individuals work for other people thus establishing the need to
enhance the lives of individuals around them. They will do this by volunteering or
participating in challenges. It enables people to acknowledge their innate ability to influence
positivity impact on others. Individuals inspire others, help each in catastrophic events and
the needy in order to contribute to his themes and dreams such as democracy, freedom,
solving conflicts, cultural diversity and peace maintenance.11 To advance Nelson Mandela
Day, numerous individuals and associations around the globe partake in a few exercises.
These exercises are volunteering, sport, craftsmanship, music, and culture. In the modern era,
efforts have been made to honor him through installing statues and paying civic tributes as
seen in Johannesburg. These mark the commitment to harmony through his dynamic
inclusion in settling clashes, advancing human rights, global majority rules system and
attending to racial issues.
Mandela contributed to the formation of the Elders, a free gathering of worldwide pioneers in
2007 who offer their impact and experience to help harmony building, enable deliver to
significant human enduring causes and advance the common interests of humankind. They
foster democracy and deals with racial segregation issues. Alongside numerous existing
11 Van Huyssteen et al"Antidiabetic and cytotoxicity screening of five medicinal plants used
by traditional African health practitioners in the Nelson Mandela Metropole,257
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peace movements and educational operators, he has been unmistakably strong in the exertion
against AIDS. It is evident in the campaign called "46664" which was his prison number.
This program was started to create awareness against the existence of HIV/AIDS. He
supported programs that educated affected people on the deadly disease and research
institution.
He has been a man of tremendous achievements receiving awards and accolades across the
globe in the history. As a political advisor, author and a respected statesman, it is evident that
he has contributed a lot to the world hence being deemed as one of the history greatest man.
In fact, he is considered as the father figure of democracy and Africa.
Personal struggles
He faced a lot of challenges in his fight against racism and democracy. He struggled through
prison life since he was sentenced to life imprisonment and complex labor. He persevered
through a progression of individual disasters.12 This is evident as indicated by his son s death
and mother in 1968. Police attacked his family home and torqued his hardheaded spouse,
Winnie, from their girls previously setting her in isolation. At that point, his child,
Thembekile, passed on in an auto collision in 1969.
His motions of compromise went past whatever whites had anticipated. Nelson Mandela
trusted that everyone ought to be dealt with. Conversely, in an existing division aspect of
South African nation, Nelson won the attitude, perception, interest, and love for many
citizens thus becoming a worldwide celebrated hero due to his courageous utterances and
leadership skills.
12 Wandabwa et al,two years experience at Nelson Mandela Academic hospital, Mthatha,
Eastern Cape South Africa,469-474.
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Bibliography
Barbarin, Oscar A., and Linda M. Richter. Mandela's children: Growing up in post-apartheid
South Africa. Routledge, 2013.
Beresford, Alexander. "Nelson Mandela and the politics of South Africa's unfinished
liberation." Review of African Political Economy 41, no. 140 (2014): 297-305.
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Broun, Kenneth S. Saving Nelson Mandela: The Rivonia Trial and the Fate of South Africa.
OUP USA, 2012.
Gade, Christian BN. "What is ubuntu,? Different interpretations among South Africans of
African descent." South African Journal of Philosophy 31, no. 3 (2012): 484-503.
Harris, Verne. "Jacques Derrida meets Nelson Mandela: archival ethics at the
endgame." Archival Science 11, no. 1-2 (2011): 113-124.
Hibbert, Liesel, and Christa van der Walt, eds. Multilingual universities in South Africa:
reflecting society in higher education. Vol. 97. Multilingual Matters, 2014.
Joffe, Joel. The State Vs. Nelson Mandela: The Trial that Changed South Africa. Oneworld
Publications, 2013.
Manasa, Justen, David Katzenstein, Sharon Cassol, Marie-Louise Newell, and Tulio de
Oliveira, for the Southern Africa Treatment and Resistance Network. "Primary drug
resistance in South Africa: data from 10 years of surveys." AIDS research and human
retroviruses 28, no. 6 (2012): 558-565.
Marais, Hein. South Africa pushed to the limit: The political economy of change. Zed Books
Ltd., 2013.
Saul, John S., and Patrick Bond. South Africa--the Present as History: From Mrs Ples to
Mandela & Marikana. Boydell & Brewer Ltd, 2014.
Van Huyssteen, Mea, Pieter J. Milne, Eileen E. Campbell, and Maryna van de Venter.
"Antidiabetic and cytotoxicity screening of five medicinal plants used by traditional
African health practitioners in the Nelson Mandela Metropole, South Africa." African
Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines 8, no. 2 (2011).
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Wandabwa, J. N., C. Businge, B. Longo-Mbenza, M. L. Mdaka, and P. Kiondo. "Peripartum
hysterectomy: two years experience at Nelson Mandela Academic hospital, Mthatha,
Eastern Cape South Africa." African health sciences 13, no. 2 (2013): 469-474.
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