Life in South Africa: A Personal Account

Early Life and Apartheid

• In the early 1960s, the narrator's family lived on a farm outside Johannesburg, South Africa, during the apartheid era.
• At that time, the government had created a system of segregation and discrimination, denying black people, the majority, of their rights and representation.

Underground Activities

• The African National Congress (ANC), banned in 1960, continued its activities underground.
• The narrator's family farm served as a secret meeting place for ANC members, including Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela's Secret Visit

• Nelson Mandela, disguised as a chauffeur, visited the farm, where he talked about the importance of nurturing and patience, using the metaphor of planting and tending to apple trees.
• He emphasized the need for good "earth" (conditions) for growth and the importance of working towards a better future.

Revelation and Imprisonment

• The narrator's brother, Peter, discovered Mandela's true identity from a magazine, and a promise was made to keep his real name a secret.
• In 1962, Nelson Mandela was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment, where he spent almost 30 years.

Fight Against Apartheid and Release

• The struggle against apartheid continued, with global outcry for Mandela's release.
• People protested, sang songs, and fought in the streets, eventually leading to Mandela's release.

Presidency and Legacy

• After his release, Mandela became the president of the ANC and worked towards a new Democratic Constitution.
• In 1994, all races could vote, and Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the new president of South Africa, symbolizing the country's transition to democracy.
• Today, South Africans enjoy the fruits of Mandela's hard work, thanks to his resilience and dedication to a better future.

Experience a personal narrative set in South Africa on May 10th, 1994. Follow the story of a family living on a farm outside Johannesburg in the early 1960s and witness the changing history of the country.