Mandela House - Soweto, South Africa
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denben
S 26° 14.317 E 027° 54.528
35J E 590768 N 7097571
The Nelson Mandela National Museum, commonly referred to as the Mandela House, is the house on Vilakazi Street, Orlando West, Soweto that former South African president Nelson Mandela lived in from 1946 to 1962.
Waymark Code: WMJMPN
Location: Gauteng, South Africa
Date Posted: 12/05/2013
Views: 5
THE PLACE:Nelson Mandela donated his house to the Soweto Heritage Trust (of which he is the founder) on 1 September 1997, to be run as a museum.
The Mission of Mandela House is to provide an effective, efficient and meaningful experience to all visitors, informing them of President Nelson Mandela’s story, both in the context of his home, and in the context of his life as a whole, in a manner that promotes human rights, democracy, reconciliation, mutual respect and tolerance amongst the peoples of South Africa.
Mandela House was declared a National Heritage Site in 1999. (
visit link)
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THE PERSON: "Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black South African to hold the office, and the first elected in a fully representative, multiracial election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. Politically an African nationalist and democratic socialist, he served as the President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997. Internationally, Mandela was the Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999.
In 1962 Mandela was arrested, convicted of sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government, and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial. He served 27 years in prison, first on Robben Island, and later in Pollsmoor Prison and Victor Verster Prison.
Mandela was a controversial figure for much of his life. Right-wing critics denounced him as a terrorist and communist sympathiser. He nevertheless gained international acclaim for his anti-colonial and anti-apartheid stance, having received more than 250 honours, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Soviet Order of Lenin. He is held in deep respect within South Africa, where he is often referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, or as Tata ("Father"); he is often described as "the father of the nation". Mandela died following a long illness on 5 December 2013 at his home in Johannesburg."
From Wikipedia: (
visit link)
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FYI: Nelson Mandela passed away today on December 5, 2013 at 95. During our trip to South Africa we followed the trail of this great man from Robben Island to Soweto, learning more about his life and the person he was.
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