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To condense all of Mr ’s achievements into one chronology would be impossible; as a result, we do not claim that our work here is comprehensive. Below you will find a chronology of important events in his life. It is a work in progress and we are happy to receive your comments or additions.

1918 July 18 Born Rolihlahla Mandela at Mvezo in the 1925 Attends primary school near Qunu (receives the name ‘Nelson’ from a teacher) 1927 Entrusted to Thembu Regent Jongintaba Dalindyebo 1934 Undergoes initiation; Attends Clarkebury Boarding Institute in Engcobo 1937 Attends Healdtown, the Wesleyan College at 1939 Enrols at the University College of Fort Hare, in Alice 1940 Expelled 1941 Escapes an arranged marriage; becomes a mine night watchman; Starts articles at the law firm Witkin, Sidelsky & Eidelman 1942 Completes BA through the University of (UNISA) 1942 Begins to attend African National Congress (ANC) meetings informally 1943 Graduates with BA from Fort Hare; Enrols for an LLB at Wits University 1944 Co-founds the ANC Youth League (ANCYL); marries Evelyn Ntoko Mase – they have four children: Thembekile (1945); Makaziwe (1947 – who dies after nine months); Makgatho (1950); Makaziwe (1954) 1948 Elected national secretary of the ANCYL 1951 Elected President of the ANCYL 1952 begins; Arrested and charged for violating the Suppression of Communism Act; Elected Transvaal ANC President; Convicted with J.S Moroka, and 17 others under the Suppression of Communism Act; Sentenced to nine months imprisonment with hard labour, suspended for two years; Elected first of ANC deputy presidents; Opens South Africa’s first black law firm with 1953 Devises the M-Plan for the ANC’s future underground operations 1955 Watches as the Congress of the People at Kliptown launches the 1956 Arrested and joins 155 others on trial for Treason. All are acquitted by 29 March 1961 1958 Divorces Evelyn Mase; Marries Nomzamo Winnie Madikizela – they have two daughters: Zenani (1959) and Zindzi (1960) 1960 March 21 Sharpeville Massacre March 30 A State of Emergency imposed and he is among thousands detained April 8 The ANC is banned 1961 Goes underground; Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) is formed 1962 January 11 Leaves the country for military training and to garner support for the ANC August 5 Arrested near Howick in KwaZulu-Natal; Sentenced to five years for incitement and leaving the country illegally 1963 May 27 Sent to June 12 Returned to Pretoria Local Prison October Charged for sabotage in the with nine others 1964 June 11 All except Rusty Bernstein and James Kantor are convicted and sentenced (June 12) to life 1969 July 13 Thembekile is killed in a car accident 1982 March 31 Mr Mandela, Sisulu, Raymond Mhlaba and Andrew Mlangeni and later are sent to 1985 Rejects South African President PW Botha's offer to release him if he renounces violence 1985 November 3 Has prostate surgery 1988 August 12 Admitted to Tygerberg Hospital and is diagnosed with Tuberculosis August 31 Admitted to Constantiaberg MediClinic December 7 Moved to Victor Verster Prison and spends the last 14 months of his imprisonment there 1990 February 2 ANC is unbanned 1990 February 11 Released March 2 Elected ANC Deputy President 1993 December 10 Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with FW de Klerk 1994 April 27 Votes for the first time in his life May 9 Elected by Parliament as first president of a democratic South Africa May 10 Inaugurated as President of the Republic of South Africa December 14 Launches his autobiography 1996 Divorces Winnie Mandela 1998 July 18 Marries Graça Machel on his 80th birthday 1999 Steps down after one term as President

2001 Diagnosed with prostate cancer 2004 June 1 Announces that he will be stepping down from public life

2005 January 6 Announces that his eldest son Makgatho had died of AIDS

2007 Witnesses the installation of his grandson Mandla as chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council 2008 Turns 90 years old, asks future generations to continue the fight for social justice 2009 Votes for the fourth time in his life; Attends the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma on May 9 and witnesses Zuma’s first State of the Nation address; Turns 91 2010 Is formally presented with the Fifa World Cup trophy before it embarks on a tour of South Africa 2010 June 11 His great-granddaughter Zenani is killed in a car accident 2010 June 17 Attends the funeral of his great-granddaughter Zenani 2010 July 11 Makes a surprise appearance at the Final of the Fifa World Cup in 2010 July Celebrates his 92nd birthday at home in with family and friends 2010 October His second book Conversations with Myself is published 2010 November 18 Meets the South African and American football teams that played in the Mandela Challenge match 2011 January Is admitted to hospital in Johannesburg where he was diagnosed with a chest infection. He is discharged after two nights 2011 May 16 Votes in the local government elections 2011 June His book Nelson Mandela By Himself: The Authorised Book of Quotations is published 2011 June 21 Is visited at home by American First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha and Malia 2011 July 18 Celebrates his 93rd birthday with his family in Qunu,

2011 October 21 Is officially counted in South Africa’s Census 2011 2011 December Spends Christmas with family in Qunu 2012 February 25 Admitted to hospital for abdominal complaint. Discharged after one night 2012 July 18 Celebrates his 94th birthday with his family in Qunu, Eastern Cape December 8 Is admitted to hospital December 26 Is discharged from hospital

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