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stand before you not as a prophet, but as a humble servant. You and your heroic sacrifices have allowed me to be here before you and therefore, the years that I have left of life will be in your hands. " These were the first words spoken by an old Nelson Mandela, just released from prison on February 11, 1990, just 20 years ago today. At 16:20 hours last crossed threshold of Victor Verster prison, 60 kilometers from Cape Town, dressed in gray, leaning on the arm of his wife Winnie and waving his fist to the crowd that awaited him ... after 27 years locked.
Immediately afterwards went to The Grand Parade Square in central Cape Town where more than half a million people expected in a celebratory mood to listen to the first speech of the man who symbolized the aspirations of black and should take South Africa to end racial segregation: "Today, most South Africans, black and white, have recognized that apartheid has no future and therefore should be abolished with the effort and struggle of all, for that way to achieve the much desired peace and prosperity. "
During the early years of the 50 Mandela played an important role in resistance against eviction from the areas west and against the introduction of Bantu Education. He also had an important role in the dissemination of the Freedom Charter adopted by the People's Congress in 1955.
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late 50's, Mandela focused on the fight against exploitation of workers, the pass laws, the nascent Bantustan policy and segregation of the open universities. Early Mandela had come to the conclusion that the Bantustan policy was a political farce and an economic absurdity. Predicted, with dismal success, that would follow a program of mass evictions, political persecutions and police terror. On the segregation of universities, noted that the friendship and inter-racial harmony that is forged by the relationship and association of various racial groups in mixed universities were a direct threat to the political of apartheid and baasskap (submission to their masters), and the closure of universities to blacks sought to eliminate that threat.
Throughout the decade of 50, Mandela was the victim of various forms of repression. He was banned, arrested and imprisoned. For almost the entire second half of the decade was one of the accused in the mammoth Treason Trial, which has seriously affected not only his work as a lawyer but also their political work. After the Slaughter of Sharpsville in 1960, the ANC was outlawed, and Mandela was imprisoned.
In 1961, the treason trial collapsed at a time when South Africa was moving toward the adoption of a constitution republican. Having banned the ANC, the leadership began to organize underground. Nelson Mandela emerged as the main figure in this new stage of struggle. In March 1961, initiated by the ANC, 1,400 delegates gathered in Pietermaritburg for a conference of all Africans. The keynote speaker was Nelson Mandela. In an impressive speech challenged the apartheid regime to convene a national convention representative of all South Africans from all supported drafting a new constitution on democratic principles. Otherwise, he warned, would compel the majority (Blacks) to celebrate the upcoming opening of the Republic with a strike general masses. He immediately went underground to lead the campaign. Although the response to the call was smaller than expected Mandela, received considerable support across the country. The government's reaction was to hold the largest military mobilization since the war, and the Republic was born in fear and apprehension.
Mandela was tried and sentenced to five years in prison. While serving this sentence in the Rivonia trial he was accused of sabotage. Mandela's statements in court during this process are classics in the history of resistance against apartheid, and have inspired us all. His historical argument concludes with these words:
I have fought against white domination, I have fought against black domination. He revered the ideal of a free and democratic society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to devote my life to achieve. But if necessary, is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.
Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment and started his imprisonment in the notorious Robben Island Prison, a maximum security prison located on a small island 7 km from the coast of Cape Town. In April 1984 he was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town and in December 1988 was transferred to Victor Vester Prison near Paarl, of which he was later released. During his imprisonment, Mandela repeatedly rejected offers from his jailers to his sentence reduced in exchange for accepting the Bantustan policy recognizing the independence of Transkei and agreeing to settle there. In the 80's again Mandela rejected an offer of freedom in exchange for renouncing violence. His answer: "Prisoners can not take contracts. Only free men can negotiate."
On 11 February 1990 Mandela was released, and gave himself entirely to strive to achieve the goals they had set him and his companions nearly four decades earlier. In 1991, during the first conference ANC national held in South Africa after decades of banishment, Nelson Mandela was elected President of the ANC, while teammate and lifelong friend, Oliver Tambo was elected National President of the organization.
Nelson Mandela has never wavered in his commitment to democracy, equality and education. Despite terrible provocation, racism has never responded to acts of racism. His life has been an example for South Africa and the world, for all the oppressed and dispossessed, for all who oppose oppression and dispossession.
For a life that symbolizes the triumph of human spirit over the inhumanity of men towards others, Nelson Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of all South Africans who suffered and sacrificed much to achieve peace in our land.
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