1962    Nelson Mandela is jailed. He would not be released until 1990.

1962    Nelson Mandela is sentenced to five years in prison.

1964    Anti-apartheid activist and ANC leader Nelson Mandela is sentenced to life in prison for sabotage in South Africa.

1980    The African National Congress in South Africa publishes a call to fight from their imprisoned leader Nelson Mandela.

1990    Apartheid: F.W. de Klerk allows the African National Congress to function legally and promises to release Nelson Mandela.

1990    Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner for 27 years, is released from Victor Verster Prison outside Cape Town, South Africa.

1990    Nelson Mandela is elected deputy President of the African National Congress.

1994    Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa's first black president.