Nelson Mandela's image and legacy is all over South Africa, especially in Johannesburg. He was from Tribal royalty and was determined to have great potential at an early age. His parents made sure he got the best education and he eventually received his law degree, later opening a law firm with Oliver Tambo (O.R. Tambo International Airport). They represented many who had been charged with treason and other related offenses under Apartheid. Mandela and Tambo were very successful in defending their clients and it began to cause them problems. They eventually had to close their law firm and go into hiding.
Mandela was married three times. The first being to Evelyn Mase (1944-1958) and they had two boys and two girls. During this marriage Mandela had begun to get heavily involved in the anti-Apartheid movement. Evelyn, being a Jehovah's witness, could not accept Nelson's activities and, therefore, took the children and left.
The second marriage was to Winnie Madikizela (1958-1996) and they had two daughters (both are still living). Winnie just celebrated her 80th birthday. During this marriage Nelson was arrested and held in jail until his trial. He was convicted of high treason against the state. The normal sentence is death by hanging, but since none of his activities caused injury or death to anyone, his sentence was life in prison. His letters to family, if they ever reached them, were heavily censored and he was not allowed to attend the funeral of his oldest son who was killed in an automobile accident. Winnie carried on the anti-Apartheid activities while Nelson was in prison. Winnie, upon Nelson's eventual release, thought they would spend the rest of their lives together. That was not to happen. Nelson could not accept the dark path of revenge and restitution Winnie had chosen during his absence so he divorced her.
The third involved his reconnection with the widow of Mozambican President Samora Machel, Graca Machel and they remained married until his death in 2013. Graca is the only woman to have been married to two Presidents.
We drove by the Mandela Memory Center,
the residence he and Graca shared after he retired from public office (she still resides in the home so visits are not allowed - picture taken through the bus window)
and his home in Soweto.
The next visit was to the Apartheid Museum.
The most disturbing things, in addition to all the videos, were the ceiling of nooses and the monster double, bullet proof hummer.
Lastly, once we returned to the hotel, I visited the Nelson Mandela Square across from our hotel.
Today was a lot of information to absorb. Tomorrow morning we fly to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Mandela was married three times. The first being to Evelyn Mase (1944-1958) and they had two boys and two girls. During this marriage Mandela had begun to get heavily involved in the anti-Apartheid movement. Evelyn, being a Jehovah's witness, could not accept Nelson's activities and, therefore, took the children and left.
The second marriage was to Winnie Madikizela (1958-1996) and they had two daughters (both are still living). Winnie just celebrated her 80th birthday. During this marriage Nelson was arrested and held in jail until his trial. He was convicted of high treason against the state. The normal sentence is death by hanging, but since none of his activities caused injury or death to anyone, his sentence was life in prison. His letters to family, if they ever reached them, were heavily censored and he was not allowed to attend the funeral of his oldest son who was killed in an automobile accident. Winnie carried on the anti-Apartheid activities while Nelson was in prison. Winnie, upon Nelson's eventual release, thought they would spend the rest of their lives together. That was not to happen. Nelson could not accept the dark path of revenge and restitution Winnie had chosen during his absence so he divorced her.
The third involved his reconnection with the widow of Mozambican President Samora Machel, Graca Machel and they remained married until his death in 2013. Graca is the only woman to have been married to two Presidents.
We drove by the Mandela Memory Center,
The guarded entrance
Lastly, once we returned to the hotel, I visited the Nelson Mandela Square across from our hotel.
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