A Freedom-Fighter Forever Celebrated 31 years ago today, February 11, the South African icon Nelson Mandela walked through Victor Verster Prison gate to freedom after having been incarcerated for 27 years. A prison sentence that the lawyer and social activist had received — along with several others including Andrew Mlangeni and Govan Mbeki, for leading the movement to end the racist, brutal and segragative apartheid regime in the country. A highly oppressive white-supremacist system that existed in South Africa for some 50 years. The release of ‘Madiba’ - as he is affectionately known by many Africans who adopt his ethnic Xhosa name, set off a joyous celebration which also gave rise to violent clashes as indigenous (black) South Africans welcomed their freedom-fighting leader.