Role Of Nelson Mandela In Civil Disobedience

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Nelson Mandela instigated his efforts in the fight to eliminate apartheid by joining the African National Congress. This was the oldest black political organisation in South Africa and is protuberant in its opposition to apartheid. It restrained the inequalities which were seen, and the apartheid organisation gave rise to a comprehensive resistance movement. As a passionate advocate for racial fairness and impartiality, Nelson had been an inspiring figure for likeminded activists all around the world. He was given the symbol of peace, having contributed in endeavours to change from apartheid to multicultural equality, and having been a powerful force in achieving national reconciliation. In numerous ways, the introduction of apartheid was …show more content…

However, after watching the white government’s ruthless disregard for the safety and wellbeing of those who protested it, Mandela altered his position. When the new government passed six laws which enforced racial separation, a person’s race classification affected all aspects of life. Black Africans were required to carry a pass, and they could be arrested if failing to produce one. The government banned the ANC in wake of the Sharpenville Massacre, but it continued its activities underground. After Nelson watched the governments’ destruction on society, he pushed the ANC and its military unit, MK, towards the direction of sabotage. It was obvious to Mandela and many others in the ANC executive that decades of non-violent resistance had only led to harsher repression by the white government. The objective of the sabotage was to harm the white economy, and bring national and international attention to the ANC cause. Despite some of the goals of the cause having been questionable, in the two years that they successfully operated underground, Mandela had moved covertly across south Africa and received the nickname “The Black Pimpernel”. During this time, he had had close encounters with the police, but had been able to disguise himself successfully. His most important work was leading MK, ensuring to keep newspapers informed of its political aims and of the next sabotage attack. Despite this, in August 1962, Mandela was arrested in Natal and received a three-year sentence for incitement. The police found evidence that the MK was planning a large-scale military operation code-named Mayibuye. The accused were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison on Robben Island, a desolate island off Cape Town. Mandela, a trained and articulate lawyer, used the trial as a platform to respond to the oppression of black people and perpetuated by the white