Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki was born on June 18, 1942 in a small village called Mbewuleni in the Eastern Cape, which means ‘place of seed’. In 1956, at the age of 14, Thabo Mbeki joined the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL).
In 1962, he left South Africa to live in exile. Whilst in exile, Mbeki read economics at Sussex University, England and achieved his Masters Degree. Afterwards he completed military training in the USSR.
He then moved to Zambia until 1990 when the ANC became unbanned. In 1994 he joined Nelson Mandela, and became South Africa’s deputy president.
Thabo Mbeki was the second democratically elected President of South Africa, replacing Nelson Mandela. He was twice elected as President of South Africa in 1999 and 2004. He resigned as president at the request of the ANC executive in 2004.
Thabo Mbeki is currently the chairperson on the African Union (AU) High Level Implementation Panel for Sudan. In this image, Thabo Mbeki and Madiba are shown in a jubilant mood as they celebrate Mbeki’s presidency at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto, 1999. Thousands of ANC supporters attended the celebration.
“As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” ~ Nelson Mandela
An emotional Brenda Fassie, South African pop diva, embraces Mandela....
Madiba laughs as his shoe comes off while kicking a soccer ball....
In 1991, Nelson Mandela received an Honorary Doctorate at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg for his commitment to the country ...
Mandela and other activists had an array of supporters that came to the court each time defendants were summoned. Pictured is a young Madiba...