Nelson Mandela our former president has made few public appearances since largely retiring from public life. In 2004, at the age of 85,Mandela retired from public life to spend more time with his family and friends and engage in "quiet reflection". Nelson Mandela has really been an inspiration for everyone.

When Mandela got released he went back to working for justice and equality for all South Africans. After being jailed for 27 years, he emerged in 1990 to become the country's first black president four years later,and to play a leading role in the drive for peace in other spheres of conflict. Since retiring as president in 1999, Mandela has become South Africa's highest-profile ambassador.

People protesting against Mandela's imprisonment.

Nelson Mandela got 5 different prisoner numbers in his time of being moved from prison to prison. In his time in all the prisons he met 7 other prisoners who moved with him, one of them being Govan Mbeki who is Thabo Mbeki's father. I do not think that the way he was treated was right. All Mandela was doing was standing up for his rights and fighting for his race. Arresting him for it and realising he was right 27 years later is not fair.

During the 1950's and early 1960's Nelson Mandela found himself constantly in prison cells. After the African National Congress was banned in 1960 he secretly went 'under ground' in 1961, and became the leader of Unkhonto we Sizwe (MK). He was put into 3 different prisons and 6 different prison cells during 1962-1988.

Nelson Mandel getting arrested in 1962.