Nelson Mandela: The Greatest leader the world ever knew

South Africans are celebrating Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday.



I believe that Nelson Mandela is the greatest leader, he dismantled the apartheid in South Africa. I put him above any King, Queen, President, Prime Minister or any other nomenclature different countries use.

I read his autobiography few years ago. Mandela was a successful lawyer. He had a bright future but he gave it all up to fight apartheid for his fellow countrymen.

He was put in jail on a small island off the coast of South Africa. He spent 27 years of his life in jail. During the day he did hard labour - breaking rocks for construction and similar physically challenging tasks. He was beaten and kicked by the guards. At night he was kept in a solitary confinement. None of this broke his resolve.

He was finally released in 1990. He was president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. Instead of retaliating against his tormenters,  he forgave them. He established The Truth and Reconciliation Board and through this he gave amnesty to his tormentors and others who committed similar crimes under apartheid through cruel treatment of blacks in South Africa.

I don't know any other leader who matches his greatness. I wish him well that he gets better but being 95 years old with ongoing serious health problems he may not survive. However, his great legacy, fighting injustice, will live on forever and the whole world celebrated Nelson Mandela International Day on July 18, 2013 and I hope the world will continue doing that every year.

In order to bring peace in the world, there needs to be more leaders like Nelson Mandela. However, no one can ever match his strength and determination.

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