In Part 4 we are looking at home ground soil and most probably the most famous person in modern history. There are many opinions about this person and many articles and book written. So today we look at Madiba. And afterward look at section 18-21 of the Bill of Rights.
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)
With a two-year diploma in Law he started in 1952 first black law firm with Oliver Tambo.
On 11 January 1962 using the adopted name David Motsamayi, he left South Africa secretly and travelled around Africa and visited England to gain support for the armed struggle. He was
arrested in a police roadblock outside Howick on 5 August 1962 and charged with leaving the country illegally and inciting workers to strike. He was convicted and sentenced to five years
imprisonment which he began serving in Pretoria Local Prison. In October 1963 he joined ten others on trial for sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial. Facing the death penalty his words to the court at the end of his famous ‘Speech from the Dock’ on 20 April 1964 became immortalized:
“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
On 11 June 1964 he and seven others were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Mandela served over 27 years in prison, initially on Robben Island, and later in Pollsmoor Prison and Victor Verster Prison before being released on 11 February 1990. After an international campaign lobbied for his release. Mandela joined negotiations with President F. W. de Klerk to abolish apartheid and establish multiracial elections. In 1993 he and President FW de Klerk jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize and on 27 April 1994 he voted for the first time in his life.
On 10 May 1994 he was inaugurated South Africa’s first democratically elected President. He stepped down in 1999 after one term as President. He continued to work with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund he set up in 1995 and established the Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Mandela Rhodes Foundation. Nelson Mandela never wavered in his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. Despite terrible provocation, he never answered racism with racism. His life has been an inspiration to all who are oppressed and deprived, to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation.
In November 2009, the United Nations General Assembly declared, 18 July Nelson Mandela International Day, to honour his birthday. This is the first time that the United Nations (UN) has designated a day dedicated to a person.
The UN has also asked the people of the world to set aside 67 minutes of their day to undertake a task that would contribute to bringing joy or relief to the millions of disadvantaged and vulnerable people of the world.
He died at his home in Johannesburg on 5 December 2013. He was 95.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/nelson-rolihlahla-mandela http://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/biography
Bill Of Rights
18. Freedom of association
Everyone has the right to freedom of association.
19. Political rights
1. Every citizen is free to make political choices, which includes the right
a. to form a political party;
b. to participate in the activities of, or recruit members for, a political party; and
c. to campaign for a political party or cause.
2. Every citizen has the right to free, fair and regular elections for any legislative body established in terms of the Constitution.
3. Every adult citizen has the right
a. to vote in elections for any legislative body established in terms of the Constitution, and to do so in secret; and
b. to stand for public office and, if elected, to hold office.
20. Citizenship
No citizen may be deprived of citizenship.
21. Freedom of movement and residence
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement.
2. Everyone has the right to leave the Republic.
3. Every citizen has the right to enter, to remain in and to reside anywhere in, the Republic.
4. Every citizen has the right to a passport.
Explanation
Section 18: Freedom of association
Everyone has the right to associate with whoever they want, for example, workers joining together and meeting in a trade union.
Section 19: Political rights
Everyone has the right and is free to make political choices, such as the right to:
- form a political party
- join any political party
- encourage other people to join a political party
- campaign for a political party or cause
Elections
Every adult citizen has the right to free, fair and regular elections. They have the right to:
- vote in these elections
- vote in secret in elections
- stand for election
Section 20: Citizenship
Your citizenship is protected and cannot be taken away from you.
Section 21: Freedom of movement and residence
Everyone has the right to:
- move anywhere in South Africa
- leave South Africa if they choose
Every citizen has the right to:
- enter South Africa and stay there
- live anywhere in South Africa
- have a passport
http://www.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/96cons2.htm http://www.paralegaladvice.org.za/docs/chap01/04.html
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