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Mandela endured hard labour for 12 of his 19 years in South Africa's notorious prison on Robben Island, off Cape Town. Shortly after his release on Sunday 11 February 1990, Mandela and his delegation agreed to the suspension of armed struggle.

Mandela has honorary degrees from more than 50 international universities and is chancellor of the University of the North. He became the first democratically elected President of South Africa on 10 May 1994, a position he held till June 1999.

Photo: Guy Tillam/AFP/Getty Images

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