11 Steps in Mandela’s quest to Freedom

While in prison Nelson Mandela continued to study and later engaged in talks with the South African government who sought to end apartheid.

While in prison his eldest son was killed in a car accident, and to his disappointment, he was not allowed to go and bury him, despite this being a custom in his culture.
All across the world, cries of “Free Mandela” were spread, to an extend that the South African government considered it.

In 1982, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Raymond Mhlaba, Andrew Mlangeni and later Ahmed Kathrada were sent to Pollsmoor Prison.
He rejected, through his daughter, Zindzi, South African President PW Botha’s offer to release him if he renounces violence.
Admitted to the Volks Hospital for prostate surgery. Discharged from hospital and returned to Pollsmoor Prison.
He was admitted a number of times to hospital, where he was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1988, before being moved to Victor Verster Prison in Paarl, where he was held for 14 months in a cottage.
The ANC was unbanned on February 2, 1990 and he was released from prison on February 11, 1990. He walked out holding hands with his wife then Winnie Mandela.

The same year he was released from prison, he was elected ANC Deputy President.
Despite opposition from the majority of South Africans, Mandela committed to hold talks with the government on forming a new South Africa. Codesa negotiations took place between 1990 and 1993.
Chris Hani’s death on April 10, 1993 was a catalyst in making sure the Codesa negotiations were followed through, after a visibly irate Mandela lashed out at former President FW de Klerk.
After the Codesa negotiations, Mandela and De Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 1993.