SOUTH AFRICA'S DIAMOND
NELSON MANDELA
A BRIEF HISTORY
NELSON MANDELA
Rolihlahla Mandela was born into the Madiba clan in the village of Mvezo. He was given the name Nelson in school by a teacher in keeping with the “custom” of the name of giving black children Christian names.
Nelson Mandela joined the ANC in 1944 where he helped form the ANC Youth League, an opportunity for young Black Africans to conscientise and express their political ambition.
After being imprisoned by the Apartheid government, Nelson Mandela became the first democratically elected President of South Africa in 1994. The human rights icon was instrumental in leading South Africa from a minority ruled country into a democracy.
Democracy had its own challenges. The mining industry, a large contributor to holding up the Apartheid government, would now need to include more black South Africans.
In the 1990s Nelson Mandela is reported to have said that “The diamond industry is vital to South Africa and the southern African economy”.
It was under this leadership that the mining industry had begun to transform with a view of enriching the people of South Africa.
In 2019, it was reported that more than $3 billion worth of diamonds was mined in South Africa. That’s roughly 20% of South Africa’s GDP. Significantly South Africa’s diamond resources are geared to expand outputs for another 50 years, whereas other producers are gearing down or closing mines.
South Africa is showing considerable growth and stability in this sector of mining.
The South African government continues to support the growth of the mining industry to be
more inclusive of people previously barred from the industry.