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Born Rolihlahla Mandela at Mvezo in the Transkei
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Attends primary school near Qunu (receives the name ‘Nelson’ from a teacher)
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Expelled from the University College of Fort Hare, in Alice
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Begins to attend African National Congress (ANC) meetings informally
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Defiance Campaign begins; Arrested and charged for violating the Suppression of Communism Act; Elected Transvaal ANC President; Convicted with J.S Moroka, Walter Sisulu 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 Oliver Tambo
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The ANC is banned
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Appears in court for the first time in what becomes known as the Rivonia Trial, with Walter Sisulu, Denis Goldberg, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada, Lionel 'Rusty' Bernstein, Raymond Mhlaba, James Kantor, Elias Motsoaledi and Andrew Mlangeni
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Mandela, Sisulu, Raymond Mhlaba and Andrew Mlangeni and later Ahmed Kathrada are sent to Pollsmoor Prison
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ANC is unbanned
Released
Elected ANC Deputy President -
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with President FW de Klerk
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Establishes the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund
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Divorces Winnie Mandela
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Steps down after one term as President, establishes the Nelson Mandela Foundation
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Asks future generations to continue the fight for social justice
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Turns 90 years old
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Passes away at home in Johannesburg
