In 1989, while in the last months of his imprisonment, he obtained an LLB through the University of South Africa. He graduated in absentia at a ceremony in Cape Town.
Nelson Mandela, while increasingly politically involved from 1942, only joined the African National Congress in 1944 when he helped formed the ANC Youth League.
In 1944 he married Walter Sisulu’s cousin Evelyn Mase, a nurse. They had two sons Madiba Thembekile ‘Thembi’ and Makgatho and two daughters both called Makaziwe, the first of whom died in infancy. They effectively separated in 1955 and divorced in 1958.
Nelson Mandela rose through the ranks of the ANCYL and through its work the ANC adopted in 1949 a more radical mass-based policy, the Programme of Action.
In 1952, he was chosen at the National Volunteer-in-Chief of the Defiance Campaign with Maulvi Cachalia as his Deputy. This campaign of civil disobedience against six unjust laws was a joint programme between the ANC and the South African Indian Congress. He and 19 others were charged under the Suppression of Communism Act for their part in the campaign and sentenced to nine months hard labour suspended for two years.
A two-year diploma in law on top of his BA allowed Nelson Mandela to practice law and in August 1952 he and Oliver Tambo established South Africa’s first black law firm, Mandela and Tambo.
At the end of 1952 he was banned for the first time. As a restricted person he was only able to secretly watch as the Freedom Charter was adopted at Kliptown on June 26, 1955.
Nelson Mandela was arrested in a countrywide police swoop of 156 activists on December 5, 1955, which led to the 1956 Treason Trial. Men and women of all races found themselves in the dock in the marathon trial that only ended when the last 28 accused, including Mr. Mandela were acquitted on March 29, 1961.
On March 21, 1960 police killed 69 unarmed people in a protest at Sharpeville against the pass laws. This led to the country’s first state of emergency on March 31 and the banning of the ANC and the Pan Africanist Congress on 8 April. Nelson Mandela and his colleagues in the Treason Trial were among the thousands detained during the state of emergency.
During the trial on June 14, 1958 Nelson Mandela married a social worker Winnie Madikizela. They had two daughters Zenani and Zindziswa. The couple divorced in 1996.
Days before the end of the Treason Trial Nelson Mandela travelled to Pietermaritzburg to speak at the All-in Africa Conference, which resolved he should write to Prime Minister Verwoerd requesting a non-racial national convention, and to warn that should he not agree there would be a national strike against South Africa becoming a republic. As soon as he and his colleagues were acquitted in the Treason Trial Nelson Mandela went underground and began planning a national strike for March 29, 30 and 31. In the face of a massive mobilization of state security the strike was called off early. In June 1961 he was asked to lead the armed struggle and helped to establish Umkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation).
On January 11, 1962 using the adopted name David Motsamayi, Nelson Mandela left South Africa secretly. He travelled around Africa and visited England to gain support for the armed struggle. He received military training in Morocco and Ethiopia and returned to South Africa in July 1962. He was arrested in a police roadblock outside Howick on August 5, while returning from KwaZulu-Natal where he briefed ANC President Chief Albert Luthuli about his trip.
He was charged with leaving the country illegally and inciting workers to strike. He was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment which he began serving in Pretoria Local Prison. On May 27, 1963 he was transferred to Robben Island and returned to Pretoria on June 12. Within a month police raided a secret hide-out in Rivonia used by ANC and Communist Party activists and several of his comrades were arrested.
In October 1963 Nelson Mandela joined nine others on trial for sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial. Facing the death penalty, his words to the court at the end of his famous ‘Speech from the Dock’ on April 20, 1964 became immortalized:
“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
On June 11, 1964 Nelson Mandela and seven other accused Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Denis Goldberg, Elias Motsoaledi and Andrew Mlangeni were convicted and the next day were sentenced to life imprisonment. Denis Goldberg was sent to Pretoria Prison because he was white while the others went to Robben Island.
Nelson Mandela’s mother died in 1968 and his eldest son Thembi in 1969. He was not allowed to attend their funerals.
On March 31, 1982 Nelson Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town with Sisulu, Mhlaba and Mlangeni. Kathrada joined them in October. When he returned to the prison in November 1985 after prostate surgery Nelson Mandela was held alone. Justice Minister Kobie Coetsee had visited him in hospital. Later Nelson Mandela initiated talks about an ultimate meeting between the apartheid government and the ANC.
In 1988 he was treated for Tuberculosis and was transferred on December 7, 1988 to a house at Victor Verster Prison near Paarl. He was released from its gates on Sunday, February 11, 1990, nine days after the unbanning of the ANC and the PAC and nearly four months after the release of the remaining Rivonia comrades. Throughout his imprisonment, he had rejected at least three conditional offers of release.
Nelson Mandela immersed himself into official talks to end white minority rule and in 1991 was elected ANC President to replace his ailing friend Oliver Tambo. In 1993 he and President FW de Klerk jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize and on April 27, 1994 he voted for the first time in his life.
On May 10, 1994 he was inaugurated South Africa’s first democratically elected President. On his 80th birthday in 1998 he married Graça Machel, his third wife.
True to his promise Nelson Mandela stepped down in 1999 after one term as President. He continued to work with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund he set up in 1995 and established the Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Mandela-Rhodes Foundation.
In April 2007 his grandson Mandla Mandela became head of the Mvezo Traditional Council at a ceremony at the Mvezo Great Place.
Nelson Mandela never wavered in his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. Despite terrible provocation, he never answered racism with racism. His life has been an inspiration to all who are oppressed and deprived, to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation.
Yvonne Chaka Chaka aka Princess of Africa did a live performance, where Nelson Mandela was honored with the South South Awards 2013. In New York, his two daughters Zindzi Mandela and Josina Machel picked up the award on his behalf.
David Norman Dinkins (born July 10, 1927) is an American politician who served as the 106th Mayor of New York City, from 1990 to 1993. He was the first and, to date, only African American to hold that office.
Before entering politics, Dinkins served in the U.S. Marine Corps, graduated cum laude from Howard University, and received a law degree from Brooklyn Law School. He served as Manhattan borough president before becoming mayor. Under the Dinkins administration, crime in New York City decreased more dramatically and more rapidly than at any time in previous New York City history.After leaving office Dinkins was named professor of public affairs at Columbia University. Dinkins was a member of the Board of Directors of the United States Tennis Association, and a member of The Jazz Foundation of America. He serves on the boards of the New York City Global Partners, the Children’s Health Fund (CHF), the Association to Benefit Children and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF). Dinkins is also on the Advisory Board of Independent News & Media and the Black Leadership Forum, is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and is Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS.
Dinkins entered office pledging racial healing, and famously referred to New York City’s demographic diversity as a “gorgeous mosaic.” Under Dinkins’ Safe Streets, Safe Cities program, crime in New York City decreased more dramatically and more rapidly, both in terms of actual numbers and percentage, than at any time in modern New York City history. The rates of most crimes, including all categories of violent crime, made consecutive declines during the last 36 months of his four-year term, ending a 30-year upward spiral and initiating a trend of falling rates that continued beyond his term.Despite the actual abating of crime, Dinkins was hurt by the perception that crime was out of control during his administration. Dinkins also initiated a hiring program that expanded the police department nearly 25%. The New York Times reported, “He obtained the State Legislature’s permission to dedicate a tax to hire thousands of police officers, and he fought to preserve a portion of that anticrime money to keep schools open into the evening, an award-winning initiative that kept tens of thousands of teenagers off the street.
Dinkins sat on the Board of Directors and in 2013 was on the Honorary Founders Board of The Jazz Foundation of America. He worked with that organization to save the homes and lives of America’s elderly jazz and blues musicians, including musicians who survived Hurricane Katrina. He serves on the boards of the Children’s Health Fund (CHF), the Association to Benefit Children and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF). Dinkins is also Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS.
The American Friends of the Phelophepa Train (AFPT) is hosting their annual awards benefit gala on Monday, November 30, 2015. The red carpet event will be held at Guastavino’s in New York with cocktail reception to start at 6 PM. This year’s gala will recognize the work of global leaders for their achievements in health, cultural arts, business, humanities, and philanthropy.
The funds raised at this year’s awards benefit dinner will contribute to establish the third Phelophepa Train, Phelophepa III set to enter service in 2018. This new addition will be used as a surgical facility to continue the vision and legacy of the Phelophepa cause. “We have never been able to offer any surgical services to the patients, which has been a great concern and dire need,” says Cathe Kruger EVP American Friends of the Phelophepa Train (AFPT). She adds, “Imagine the excitement of people living in desolate impoverished communities when a new surgical train arrives to do cataract operations giving thousands of legally blind people a new day of light and sight.” Dedicated to helping their patients with cataract surgeries, the organization has decided to add a car to the two existing Phelophepa Trains starting in 2016 while Phelophepa III is constructed.
The Phelophepa trains deliver primary health care, education and outreach programs including, HIV/AIDS education. AFPT services include training community volunteers in basic healthcare and educating local schools and children. The South African Phelophepa trains travel throughout the country on a journey so worthwhile that the rural people refer to it as the “Train of Hope.” Its passengers are doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and counselors who deliver primary health care, empowerment and technology to those in need.
The gala held in New York City’s historical venue, Guastavino’s will include international dignitaries, American film industry (Hollywood) celebrities, and local and national socialites as guests. Artists from the Broadway Musical, “The Lion King” will be providing the main entertainment for the evening followed by a fashion show by designer Sergio Alain Barrios (SAB) who will be featuring a collection of men’s and women’s fashions created from African textiles.
Guests will have the opportunity to participate in an auction which will include exclusive Nelson Mandela Memorabilia. A few mentionable items include, a 1995 World Cup Rugby photo signed by both Nelson Mandela and Francois Pienaar, 18K King Gold Hublot Mandela watches with a bezel set with 35 diamonds (totaling 1.15 carats), and a three piece funeral farewell art collection by Jane Makhubele. The Hublot special edition watches are limited to 95 pieces, a reference to Nelson Mandela’s age at the time of his death. Gala attendees will also have a chance to participate in bidding for an all-inclusive luxury trip to South Africa.
Philip Nobel, a descendent of the legendary Nobel family recently partnered with a champagne house out of France and will be present to do a soft launch of the brand, “House of Nobel” at the awards gala. The Nobel family is also known for the creation of Nobel Prizes along with numerous other philanthropic and innovative ventures.
Past staunch support for this remarkable project has come from President Nelson Mandela, UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and President Bill Clinton. “We are thrilled to welcome the supporters of the Phelophepa trains and honor individuals that continue to make a difference in the world.” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
ABOUT AFPT:
With a vision to bring hope, empowerment and health equity to the poor in the rural communities of South Africa, Phelophepa provides a simple, one-stop service for its patients. Equipped with everything a traveling hospital requires, world’s largest mobile clinic provides healthcare education and outreach programs that ensures continued care once the train has departed. This cause has received awards and won global recognition for using innovative methods and technology in which the trains bring the best of modern medicine to rural areas in South Africa.
World Liberty TV, Team was on hand to support this charity, for the 5th year and hear an exclusive interview with Cathe Kruger Executive Vice President of The American Friends of the Phelophepa Train (AFPT), see what she had to say right here in our World Liberty TV, Humanitarian Channel .
We at World Liberty TV, like to thank Mrs Divya Gupta ,President of G.R.I.D.S. Consulting ,who was the publicist for the Event ,in regarding setting up interviews with honorees and helping us with logistics for the night, without her and her professional staff team this would not of been possible, Thank you Mrs Gupta.
John Paul Jones DeJoria is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist best known as a co-founder of the Paul Mitchell line of hair products and The Patron Spirits Company.
DeJoria entered the world of hair care as an employee of Redken Laboratories. He was fired from this position, he claims over a disagreement on business strategies. In 1980, he formed John Paul Mitchell Systems with hairdresser Paul Mitchell and a loan for $700. DeJoria also owns 70% of The Patron Spirits Company. The company is a premium tequila brand, and in 2011 they sold approximately 2,450,000 cases. Additionally, DeJoria has a business interest in the African oil industry through his holdings in Madagascar Oil Ltd.
DeJoria co-founded the Patrón Spirits Company in 1989 and is a founding partner of the House of Blues nightclub chain and has interests in Pyrat Rum, Ultimat Vodka, Solar Utility, Sun King Solar, Touchstone Natural Gas, Three Star Energy, Diamond Audio, a Harley Davidson dealership, a diamond company (DeJoria), mobile technology developer ROK AMERICAS, the John Paul Pet company, which does hair and personal grooming for animals, and J&D Acquisitions LLC, the parent company for the Larson, Striper, Triumph, Marquis and Carver boat companies formed with Minneapolis-based investor Irwin L. Jacobs.
Dejoria is a supporter of Food4Africa. In 2008, DeJoria traveled to sub-Saharan Africa to join Nelson Mandela in his efforts to help feed over 17,000 orphaned children through Food4Africa. In the same year his company Paul Mitchell helped provide over 400,000 life-saving meals for the children.
Michael Phelps, American swimmer, who was the most-decorated athlete in Olympic history with 28 medals, which included a record 23 gold. At the 2008 Games in Beijing, he became the first athlete to win eight gold medals at a single Olympics.
Phelps was raised in a family of swimmers and joined the prestigious North Baltimore Aquatic Club at age seven. He finished fifth in the 200-metre butterfly at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. At the 2001 U.S. spring nationals, he became at age 15 the youngest world-record holder in men’s swimming when he posted 1 min 54.92 sec in the 200-metre butterfly.
He went on that year to win his first international title at the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan. He claimed five medals at the 2002 Pan Pacific championships, including three gold (200-metre and 400-metre individual medley [IM] and 4 × 100-metre medley relay). At the U.S. spring nationals in 2003, he became the first male swimmer to claim titles in three different strokes at a single national championship, and he later broke an unprecedented five individual world records at the world championships in Barcelona, Spain. Phelps also captured five titles at the U.S. summer nationals—the most won by a male swimmer at a single championship.
Phelps’s retirement was short-lived, as he announced his return to competitive swimming in April 2014. In October of that year, he was suspended by USA Swimming for six months after he was charged with driving under the influence, his second such arrest; the first had occurred in 2004. Phelps was the American flag-bearer at the opening ceremonies of the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, which were his fifth Games, a record for an American male swimmer.
There he added to his unparalleled medal count by winning golds in the 200-metre IM, 4 × 100-metre medley relay, 4 × 100-metre freestyle relay, and 4 × 200-metre freestyle relay as well as a silver in the 100-metre butterfly. It was his gold in his signature event, the 200-metre butterfly, that captured the most international attention.
The finals of that race featured South Africa’s Chad le Clos, who had beaten Phelps by five-hundredths of a second in the race at the 2012 Games and who had exchanged verbal barbs with the American over the following four years. Before the race, cameras caught le Clos warming up in front of Phelps, who fixed an icy stare upon his rival that instantly became a meme on social media platforms. In the following race, Phelps eked out a victory by four-hundredths of a second and had an uncharacteristically exuberant celebration in the pool. Having completed his improbably dominant comeback at the 2016 Games, he again retired from competitive swimming.
Michael Phelps Greatest Olympian of all time, spoke at World of Business Ideas (WOBI) World Business forum NYC-2017,see more about great Sports stars in our World Liberty TV Sports Channel by clicking here.
The 2013 South-South Awards ceremony was held on Sunday, September 22 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The awards recognize governments and private and public sector leaders who have made significant contributions to sustainable development. This year’s Global Governance Leadership award recipients included:
Her Excellency Laura
Chinchilla Miranda, President of Costa Rica
His Royal Highness Khalifa bin Salman Al- Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain
His Excellency Josaia Voreqe
Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji
The Global Governance Leadership Awards are presented to individuals who have made distinctive contributions to sustainable development, the youth, e-governance, and information and communications technology. Other award recipients this year included:
His Excellency Nelson
Mandela, Madame Graça Machel
Mr. David Paich.
The ceremony was hosted by Erin Brady, Miss USA 2013 and entertainment provided by world music icons Les Nubians, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, and Robin DiMaggio and the Posse 2.0, the Arsenio Hall House Band. Noami Campbell, supermodel, was on hand to support the cause.
