Nelson Mandela: Breaking News

Nelson Mandela: Breaking News

 

Nelson Mandela,South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon

    On December 5th, 2013, around eight fifty in the evening, Nelson Mandela who was first black president of The South African passed away at the age of 95 in his home in Johannesburg. He was constantly in and out of hospital for a lung infectious disease. He was being cared for by his family, and then he passed away. "Our nation has lost its greatest son," Jacob Zuma, President of The South African, said. He forced to be in prison for 27 years but he was against apartheid with perseverance.

 

A mourner touches a photograph of Nelson Mandela placed outside Mandela's house in Johannesburg

    Mr. Mandela was born in the Eastern Cape on July, 1918. He studied law in his university He joined African National Congress (ANC) in 1943 and he opposed the policy of apartheid in South Africa. In 1960, Sharpeville massacre triggered outlawing ANC, he started to hide underground. He arrested on suspicion of illegal exit on August, 1960. Having been convicted of treason, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and he did time in Robben Island prison in Table Bay. He made free from prison by Frederik Willem de Klerk (born 18 March 1936) who aimed negotiating with black people in1990. The next year 1991, apartheid was abolished. Mr. Mandela and Klerk won Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. In 1994, Mr. Mandela was elected first black president in The South African. Of a government official, he resigned from politics. The last time he appeared in public is at the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South African.

 

Chronology on the life and times of Nelson Mandela

     After his death, the biggest problem facing South Africa is economic disparity between human races. Since Mr. Mandela became the President, government pursued the preferential treatment to black people such as forcing management to appointing to a job position. The Equal Employment Opportunity Law has come into existence in 1998. But the movement hasn’t produced a good effect to be acceptable to all races. There are some opinions that such policy may make racial reconciliation obvious again. Moreover official corruption is weakening people's trust in politics. South Africa joined main developing nation in 2011 and South Africa at first held summit meeting of BRICS. South Africa is becoming a leader of African continent. But if social unrest and racial reconciliation glow, South Africa will be in disorder again. Mr. Zuma, the President, and the present leaders of South Africa bear a heavy burden of work or difficulties or responsibilities to take over the helm of problematic African situation.

  reference: 産経新聞 (12/7/2013)
                    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25249520