Encomium
July 18, 1918 – Born Rolihlahla Mandela into Thembu royal family in Mvezo village in the south-east of South Africa.
1940 – Expelled from Fort Hare University College for participating in student strike.
1941 – Moves to Johannesburg, becomes mine policeman.
1943 – Joins African National Congress (ANC).
1944 – Marries Evelyn Mase, trainee nurse.
1952 – Opens first black law practice in Johannesburg with Oliver Tambo.
December 5, 1956 – Among 156 political activists arrested and charged with treason.
1958 – Marries social worker, Nomzamo Zaniewe Winifred ‘Winnie’ Madikizela, having divorced Mase in 1954.
March 21, 1960 – Security forces massacre 67 protesters in Sharpeville. Government bans ANC and Pan African Congress and declares state of emergency.
1961 Acquitted in treason trial, along with co-accused.
December 16, 1961 – Launch of ANC’s armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), with Mr. Mandela as commander-in-chief.
August 5, 1962 – Captured and sentenced on November 7 to five years imprisonment for incitement to strike and leaving country illegally, having earlier travelled to Ethiopia and Algeria for military training.
1963 – While serving this sentence he is charged with sabotage along with other ANC activists arrested in Rivonia near Johannesburg.
June 12, 1964 – After famous speech from dock (democracy is an ideal for which I am prepared to die), is sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to Robben Island prison off Cape Town.
1985 – Offered conditional release, but he refused.
July 5, 1990 – Released from Robben Island prison.
July 5, 1991 – Elected ANC President.
April 1992 – Separated from Winnie.
Octobre 15, 1993 – Wins Nobel Peace Prize with De Klerk.
April 27, 1994 – Votes for the first time in his life in the country’s first all-race elections.
May 10, 1994 – Inaugurated as president.
July 18, 1998 – Marries Graca Machel, widow of Mozambican president, Samora Machel.
1999 – Steps down as president after one term.
2000 – Appointed as mediator in the civil war in Burundi.
June 1, 2004 – Announces his retirement from public life.
January 6, 2005 – Announces his son, Makgatho had died of AIDS.
April 19, 2009 – Makes his final political address in a recorded message at an ANC election rally.
July 11, 2010 – Appears at the closing ceremony of the football World Cup in South Africa.
January 28, 2011 – Discharged from hospital after two days of treatment for an acute respiratory infection.
February 25, 2012 – Admitted to hospital to treat a long-running abdominal complaint.
May 30, 2012 – Makes rare television appearance to receive symbolic flame marking the ANC centenary.
December 8, 2012 – Admitted to hospital in Pretoria to be treated for a lung infection and gall stones. He was discharged after 18 days.
January 6, 2013 – Doctors say Mandela has ‘recovered’ although he continues to receive care at his home in Johannesburg.
March 9, 2013 – Admitted overnight to a Pretoria Hospital for a ‘scheduled medical check-up.’
March 27, 2013 – Mandela is readmitted to hospital for a recurrence of a lung infection. He was discharged a few days later.
June 8, 2013 – The 94 year-old returns to hospital with a new lung infection. His condition is reported as serious but stable.
July 18, 2013 – Celebrates his 95th birthday in hospital. The South African government said Mandela was ‘steadily improving.’
December 5, 2013 – Dies at his home surrounded by family, at the age of 95.
