- Elected onto the Students Representative Council at the University College of
Fort Hare
- Suspended from College as a result of participating in a student protest
(1940)
- Became a mine policeman in Johannesburg (1940)
- Articled clerk with a legal firm (1940)
- Joined the ANC (1942)
- Participated in the founding of the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) together
with Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu (1944)
- Served as National Secretary of the ANCYL (1948)
- Elected into the National Executive Committee of the ANC (1949)
- Became National President of the ANCYL (1950)
- Opened the first African legal partnership with Oliver Tambo in
Johannesburg (1952)
- Appointed National Volunteer-in-Chief of the Defiance Campaign (1952).
Travelled the country organising resistance to discriminatory legislation
- Arrested and charged under the Suppression of Communism Act (1952) and
given a suspended sentence for his part in the defiance campaign
- Elected Provincial President of the ANCs Transvaal region (1952)
- Elected one of four Deputy Presidents of the ANC by virtue of his being
President of the Transvaal branch (1952)
- Among the 156 political activists arrested and charged with high treason in
1956. Played a legal role in the trial after the original defence lawyers
withdrew during the 1960 state of emergency. Found not guilty on
25 March 1961, after a trial of four and a half years
- Instrumental in a number of protest actions and campaigns, including
the anti-pass law campaigns. Addressed international audiences and
travelled widely to gain support for the struggle against apartheid, and
to canvass support for Umkhonto WeSizwe
- Returned to South Africa (July 1962). Arrested for leaving the country
illegally and for incitement to strike. Convicted and sentenced to five
years imprisonment (1962). While serving this sentence, he was charged
in the Rivonia trial with sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the
government by revolution. Sentenced to life imprisonment (12 June 1964).
All eight of the accused, including Mr Mandela, were sentenced to
life imprisonment.
- Continued to exercise leadership in the education of fellow prisoners and
attending to political questions facing the ANC while in Robben Island
Prison. Transferred to Pollsmoor Prison (1982)
- Transferred to a house on the grounds of the Victor Verster Prison, near
Paarl, when it was discovered that he was suffering from tuberculosis
(1988)
- Started holding discussions with SA government representatives on the
possibility of negotiation (1986) and met with the then State
President, PW Botha, at Tuynhuys and the new State President,
FW de Klerk (1989)
- Released from prison on 11 February 1990 after the unbanning of the
ANC, SACP, PAC and other anti-apartheid organisations on
2 February 1990
- Resumed his leadership role in the ANC, and was appointed Deputy
President by the National Executive Committee (NEC) on
2 March 1991
- Undertook a tour of the country, addressing the biggest rallies ever
seen in the countrys history, and helped re-establish the ANC as a
legal organisation
- Led the ANC in negotiations with the South African Government which
culminated in the adoption of the Interim Constitution in
November 1993
- Served as President of the ANC (5 July 1991 - December 1997), and
led the ANC campaign in the 1994 elections
- Inaugurated as the President of South Africa for a term of five
years (10 May 1994 - 14 June 1999)
- Ex-officio member of the ANCs NEC (1998)
- Ex-officio member of the ANCs National Working Committee (1998)
- Appointed a Mediator in the Burundi Peace Process (1999)
| 
