Mr Nelson Mandela: International Patron
Nelson Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 into the royal family of the
Thembu, a Xhosa-speaking tribe which nestles in a fertile valley in the
Eastern Cape. There in the family kraal of white washed huts, the young boy
spent a happy and sheltered childhood, and listened eagerly to the stirring
tales of the tribal elders. His Xhosa name, Rolihlahla, has the colloquial
and rather prophetic meaning “trouble-maker”, and he only received his more
familiar English name, Nelson, on his first day at Healdtown, a British
colonial boarding school.
Released on February 11, 1990, Mr Mandela plunged wholeheartedly into his
life's work, striving to attain the goals he and others had set out almost
four decades earlier. In 1991, at the first national conference of the ANC
held inside South Africa after being banned for decades, Nelson Mandela was
elected President of the ANC while his lifelong friend and colleague, Oliver
Tambo, became the organisation’s National Chairperson.
Negotiating Peace
In a life that symbolises the triumph of the human spirit, Nelson Mandela
accepted the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize (along with FW de Klerk) on behalf of
all South Africans who suffered and sacrificed so much to bring peace to our
land.
The era of apartheid formally came to an end on the April 27, 1994, when
Nelson Mandela voted for the first time in his life – along with his people.
However, long before that date it had become clear, even before the start of
negotiations at the World Trade Centre in Kempton Park, that the ANC was
increasingly charting the future of South Africa.
Rolihlahla Nelson Dalibunga Mandela was inaugurated as President of a
democratic South Africa on May 10, 1994. In his inauguration speech he said:
“We dedicate this day to all the heroes and heroines in this country and the
rest of the world who sacrificed in many ways and surrendered their lives so
that we could be free. Their dreams have become reality. Freedom is their
reward. We are both humbled and elevated by the honour and privilege that
you, the people of South Africa, have bestowed on us, as the first President
of a united, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist government.
“We understand it still that there is no easy road to freedom. We know it
well that none of us acting alone can achieve success. We must therefore act
together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation
building, for the birth of a new world. Let there be justice for all. Let
there be peace for all. Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.
Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed
to fulfil themselves. Never, never and never again shall it be that this
beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and
suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world. Let freedom reign.”
Mr Mandela stepped down in 1999 after one term as President – but for him
there has been no real retirement. He set up three foundations bearing his
name: The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, The Nelson Mandela Children’s
Fund and The Mandela-Rhodes Foundation. Until very recently his schedule has
been relentless. But during this period he has had the love and support of
his large family – including his wife Graça Machel, whom he married on his
80th birthday in 1998.
Involvement with UniSA
On 1 August 2001 the Vice Chancellor, Professor Denise Bradley, AO, formally
announced that Mr Nelson Mandela had accepted the role of international
patron of the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre. While Prime
Minister, The Hon Bob Hawke was strongly critical of the apartheid laws of
South Africa. Mr Mandela saw the actions of Bob Hawke against the apartheid
regime, and especially through his influence upon the Commonwealth Heads of
Government as critical to his release from prison after 27 years. He visited
Bob Hawke shortly after his release to explain his view on that. Hence his
later association with the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, and a source
of great pride to all concerned.
While President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela was awarded a University of
South Australia doctorate by the former Chancellor the Honourable Dr Basil
Hetzel AC in a ceremony at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa in
April 1998. This award recognised President Mandela's commitment to
empowerment through education.
Additional information: Nelson Mandela Foundation web site