South African president, Jacob Zouma, announced the death of Nelson Mandela yesterday in Johannisberg. The former president and national hero had been ill for some time and died at his home. Numerous media highlighted the long path taken by this man who became the first black president of his country and became an inspiration to our own Barack Obama.
He was awarded a Nobel Peace prize, shared with J.D. DeClerk in 1993, for their efforts to forge a government without apartheid, the political system that persisted in South Africa for 43 years after introduction by the National Party to insure that the White minority would maintain power in the country.
He was arrested and convicted of insurrection and sentenced to life in prison along with 8 others in 1963-64. After 27 years in the Robben Island maximum security prison( like Alcatraz Is. in San Francisco Bay), he was released and was elected president by parliament in 1994. He served 4 years and then left office, stating he had no desire to continue to rule at age 80.
Married 3 times, his personal life suffered during his political career. Several children died of various causes prior to his death.
World leaders marked his passing, and the country entered a period of mourning and reflection on the life of this remarkable man.
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