In the midst of the turbulent political storm in South Africa, a middle-aged man is pushed to the forefront of history by a harsh fate. His name is Nelson Mandela, a fighter for freedom and justice, a soul who has suffered because of the color of his skin.
At the age of 46, he was sentenced to life in prison on charges of attempting to subvert the government. This sentence not only blocked his freedom, but also ruthlessly isolated him from his beloved wife, Winnie, for a full 21 years.
Day after day, year after year, the rocks of Robben Island bear witness to Mandela's toughened legs under his shorts. The sea breeze was bitter and the living conditions on the island were difficult, but Mandela's faith never wavered.
His life seemed to be frozen in endless cold and loneliness, and every day was a race against time, waiting for a day of liberation that might never come. In such a desperate situation, can he still see the light of hope?
Mandela's early prison years
In August 1962, in the context of the high pressure of the Cold War, the CIA cooperated with the South African government to launch a series of sophisticated arrests against the African National Congress (ANC) in order to limit the spread of communist influence.
The South African government demonstrated a harsh crackdown on the resistance movement during this period, and Nelson Mandela, a key ANC leader, was a major target for his central role in the fight against apartheid.
At the time of his arrest, Mandela was charged with "incitement" against the government and "illegal border crossing" in connection with his unauthorized crossing of the border to participate in international conferences and events against apartheid.
In the course of the speedy trial, Mandela was sentenced to five years in prison. The verdict drew widespread attention and protests in South Africa and abroad, but failed to prevent him from being sent to prison to serve his sentence.
In 1964, Mandela spent two years in prison. During this period, the government's interrogation of him did not stop, but intensified.
A new charge was imposed on him for "attempting to violently overthrow the government," a much more serious charge that would allow him to face harsher punishment.
After a month-long trial, he was sentenced to life in prison, which was set to be the harshest prison in South Africa.
Robben Island Prison: Loneliness and Struggle
Nestled in the icy Atlantic Ocean, Robben Island Prison is a small island eroded by wind and rain, about 7 kilometers from Cape Town. The prison building is rudimentary and gloomy, surrounded by a courtyard with towering, heavy walls that feel oppressive.
The daily life of the prisoners is strictly controlled, there is a fixed schedule for every activity, and the discipline in the prison is extremely strict, with severe penalties imposed for even the smallest violations.
In this environment, racist policies are becoming more pronounced, and this inequality is directly reflected in prison uniforms. Black prisoners such as Nelson Mandela were forced to wear shorts, while Indian prisoners were allowed to wear long trousers. This distinction is not only a distinction of clothing, but also a deprivation of dignity.
In African cultures, adult men wear it as a symbol of maturity and respect, while shorts are often seen as children's clothing. Such a dress code was designed to undermine prisoners' self-esteem and sense of identity, deepening their shame and humiliation.
Despite such a harsh environment, Mandela found a way to maintain hope and determination. In the courtyard of Robben Island Prison, there is a small garden where inmates have limited access to outdoor activities under the watchful eye of prison officials.
It was here that Mandela began his gardening work, and despite the rudimentary gardening tools, poor soil and far from ideal climatic conditions, he continued to grow.
Mandela grows mainly cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant plants, such as native herbs from South Africa and several small shrubs. These plants thrived in the harsh environment and became a symbol of Mandela's indomitable spirit.
The number of plants he planted in the garden grew, from a few to nearly 900. These plants not only beautify the indifferent environment of the prison, but also bring hope and psychological comfort to other inmates.
The prisoners helped each other in the collective work of the courtyard and exchanged gardening experiences and skills. This activity became one of the few moments in their daily lives when they could communicate freely.
Prison officials, while wary of such activities, have not banned them altogether, believing that it drains prisoners and makes them less likely to resist.
Transfer and family reunion
After 18 years of hardship and numerous trials and tribulations at Robben Island Prison, Nelson Mandela was transferred to Polsmore Prison in 1982.
The facility, located on the outskirts of Cape Town, is a different cage for Mandela, although it is a better environment than Robben Island.
Although the security measures at Polsmore prison are tight, and although the living conditions in the prison have improved compared to before, the restrictions on political prisoners remain strict, and prison life is still the harsh and monotonous of the day.
In 1984, after years of quarantine, Mandela was finally granted "contact" visitation rights with his wife, Winnie. It was the first time since his arrest in 1963 that he had been able to have direct physical contact with his wife.
Visits take place in the prison's interview room, which is relatively private, but prison guards are still watching from a short distance. Visitation time is strictly limited, and every second counts.
On this special day, Winnie was allowed to enter the prison's internal meeting area, and there was no longer a glass or iron fence between the two.
The meeting room is simply furnished, with only a table and a few chairs, and the gray walls and cold lighting add a bit of seriousness and oppressive atmosphere. But for Mandela and Winnie, all this environmental indifference was nothing to worry about.
When Mandela and Winnie meet again, the two embrace each other and cry, a kind of release after a long absence.
For the past 21 years, Mandela has communicated with his wife only indirectly through letters, and this direct physical contact made this meeting all the more important.
The two hugged each other tightly, each other's body temperature and breathing overlapping after a long separation, and it was as if time stood still for a moment.
Despite the limited time they met, Mandela and Winnie made the most of their brief time together. They talked a lot and shared each other's experiences and feelings during the quarantine.
Every sentence is full of affection, and every eye exchange is a proof of long-term longing for the other person. Although the reunion was brief-lived, it offered Mandela a glimmer of hope for more possibilities in the future.
The brief meeting was over, and Mandela and Winnie had to say goodbye again. Prison guards appear at the door of the interview room to remind them that the time has come. The two men clasped their hands tightly at the last moment until the guards intervened and separated them. Winnie slowly departed, and Mandela was taken back to his cell, where he returned to his daily life in captivity.
The dawn of liberation
In the late 1980s, international condemnation of apartheid in South Africa intensified, and the anti-apartheid movement in the country intensified, and the South African government came under unprecedented pressure.
Against this backdrop, in 1990, when Frederick Willem de Klerk assumed the presidency of South Africa, he quickly adopted a series of reform measures.
De Klerk recognized the need for fundamental political change to ease pressures at home and abroad.
In a nationally televised address, he announced the lifting of the party ban on the African National Congress (ANC) and announced that he would release Nelson Mandela unconditionally.
This decision has attracted widespread attention and positive repercussions in South Africa and abroad, and is regarded as a historic turning point.
February 11, 1990, was an important milestone in the history of South Africa.
Nelson Mandela, the leader who was imprisoned for 27 years for protesting apartheid policies, is finally free. He walked out of Victor West Prison on the outskirts of Cape Town and into the free world.
Mandela's release was carefully and thoughtfully arranged. On that day, hundreds of journalists and thousands of supporters gathered outside the prison in the hope of witnessing this historic moment.
Police and security personnel were deployed in the surrounding area to ensure order and Mandela's safety. Despite the tight security measures, the excitement and anticipation in the crowd remained uncontrollable.
In the sun, Mandela held the hand of his wife, Winnie, and slowly walked out of the prison gate. With a determined and peaceful expression on his face, he wore a simple shirt and trousers, no longer in the prisoner's costume.
Around them, the crowd cheered, and the air was filled with an atmosphere of joy and hope. Mandela waved to the gathered crowd, and people responded with singing, dancing and raised fists, symbolizing the strength of resistance and the joy of victory.
From prison to the city centre, Mandela was arranged to travel in a car to Cape Town Town Hall, where he would address the nation.
Throughout the trip, the streets were lined with people waving national flags and ANC flags. As the convoy moved along, people screamed Mandela's name to welcome the hero who had long been deprived of his liberty back into society.
Mandela's Leadership and Legacy
On April 26, 1994, South Africa ushered in an epoch-making general election in its history, the first referendum on racial equality in South Africa.
In this election, citizens of all races had the right to vote for their representatives, a change that ended a long-standing policy of white domination.
The election was widely watched by the international community because it not only represented a political shift in South Africa, but also an end to the country's apartheid history.
On election day, long queues formed in front of polling stations across the country, with people arriving early to exercise their newfound right to vote.
Voters waited in orderly formations, many with serious expressions, realizing that they were participating in an important historical event. Outside the polling stations, volunteers and election workers were busy guiding the voting process and making sure everything went according to plan.
When the results of the vote were announced, the African National Congress (ANC) won a landslide victory, gaining 65% of the vote and becoming the largest party in parliament.
Nelson Mandela, a leader in the long-time struggle against apartheid policies, was elected South Africa's first black president.
And his former opponent, former President Frederick William de Klerk, accepted the vice presidency, a combination that embodies the unity and harmony of the new South African government.
Mandela's election ceremony took place at the Parliament building, a grand and solemn ceremony. The ceremony was attended by a number of heads of government and representatives of international organizations at home and abroad to witness this historic moment.
At the ceremony, Mandela took the oath of office as President of South Africa. When he was dressed in a simple suit and raised his hand to take the oath, the audience burst into warm applause and cheers.
In his subsequent inaugural address, Mandela stressed the importance of national unity and reconciliation, calling on the entire nation to put aside past hatreds and work together to build a new South Africa of equality and freedom.
His words were inspiring and earned the respect and support of everyone present. The crowd burst into applause from time to time, and people's faces were filled with hope and joy.
Zhang Chi.Mandela's Thought on National Reconciliation and Its World Significance[J].Jingchu Journal,2024,25(1):37-43