1918- . South African politician and lawyer.
As organizer of the banned African National
Congress (ANC), he was acquitted of treason
1961, but was given a life sentence 1964 on
charges of sabotage and plotting to overthrow
the government. In prison he became a symbol
of unity for the worldwide anti-apartheid
movement. In Feb 1990 he was released, the
ban on the ANC having been lifted.