SOUTH AFRICA 11 Feb 2010 Nelson Mandela released from prison 20 years ago

On Feb 2 in 1990, South African President F.W. de Klerk lifted the 30-year ban on the African National Congress, and black nationalist Nelson Mandela. He was released from prison on Feb 11 after 27 years behind bars. Mandela visited one of the prisons, Robben Island, on the 5th anniversary, and opened the Nelson Mandela Museum on the 10th. The 20th anniversary events have not been announced. They are likely to be determined by the state of Mandela's health. He turns 92 in Jul 2010.

He traveled to London in June 2008 for a star-studded celebration of his 90th birthday and for events marking the anniversary of the Free Mandela concert. That event 20 years ago in London helped to keep the pressure on Pretoria to release him.

A lawyer from the Transkei homeland, Mandela was convicted of treason and sabotage in Jun 1964 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He spent the first 18 years of his sentence on Robben Island, off Cape Town, doing hard labour, and later spent time at Pollsmoor prison and Victor Verster Prison, closer to the mainland. He refused numerous offers for early release from the government in Pretoria because of the conditions attached.

Then the world's best-known political prisoner, Mandela was 71 when he was released from his last prison. Following his release, he negotiated the end to white minority rule, took over as South Africa's first black president after the country held its first all-race election, began dismantling the legacy of apartheid, and divorced and remarried. He led the country until 1999.

De Klerk and Mandela were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their efforts in ending apartheid.

RELATED READING:

Nelson Mandela Museum:
http://www.exploresouthafrica.net/easterncape/attractions/mandela.htm

Mandela lays the ghosts of Robben Island (Independent 11 Feb 1995)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/mandela-lays-the-ghosts-of-robben-island-1572448.html

1990: Freedom for Nelson Mandela (BBC 11 Feb 1990)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/11/newsid_2539000/2539947.stm

Mandela biography (Encyclopedia Britannica)
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/361645/Nelson-Mandela