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The Game that brought a Country together
South Africa was getting ready to take on New Zealand in the rugby World Cup, you wouldn't believe who
was the most nervous person there. Well it was Nelson Mandela, and to most people a game is just for fun and entertainment,
but for the country of South Africa this was about a matter of freedom. In his mind he was thinking he could
solve the distance between two races through the game as they have similar interests, as well as
stop the apartheid. That is why he chose to host the World Cup in South Africa. Then he chose a local team called
the Springboks as their national team, which only had one non-white player on the team. He got them to unite together
and he made them learn a new national anthem, which was originally a song protesting the apartheid.
Throughout the tournament, South Africa seemed to be winning convincingly, beating Australia and
France. Then it came to the championship were they met New Zealand, the dominant team at the time. After they
had won in a well fought match, men from South Africa white and black all danced the night away for the first time together.
By winning the match, Nelson Mandela was able to achieve a stable democracy and he brought love around the country.
I think if the South African national team had not won the World Cup and had not stopped the apartheid,
Nelson Mandela could have told them to look at this team and see how far they have gone. Tell them if
a team with both races could work together in harmony why couldn't a country do the same?
| Playing with the Enemy |
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| The National South African rugby team with Mandela in the middle. |
"Look here, chaps, you are playing the All Blacks. They are one of the more powerful. And just remember that
this entire crowd, both black and white, are behind you, and that I'm behind you." (Playing the Enemy)
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Life in Prison
Robben's Island was the name of the prison that Mandela spent eighteen of the twenty-
seven years in prison. While there, they had to go through hard labor everyday. The prison was segregated
by blacks and whites, the whites mainly got the best treatment such as better treatment and food. The prisoners were
seperated by labels such as politically and ordinary criminals. While served his time he was classified as a D- group
prisoner, the lowest group. D- group members were only allowed one letter and visitor per every six months.
In March of 1982 Mandela was moved from Robben's Island to Pollsmoor Prison along with
other members of the African National Congress. People speculate that this was done in order to sustain the influence
of anti- apardeidism on the younger black male generation. In February of 1985 Mandela was offered freedom by President
P. W. Botha, if he would stop the protests against the apartheid. Mandela denied the offer staying in prison.
When President P. W. Botha suffered a stroke, he was replaced by Frederick Willem de Klerk.
While he was in office he announced in 1990 that Mandela would be free. On February 11, 1990 Mandela was officially
a free man again.
| Mandela |
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| Robbens Island |
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