MANDELA'S KEY DATES

• 1918 - Born in the Eastern Cape
• 1956 - Charged with high treason, but charges dropped
• 1962 - Arrested, convicted of sabotage, sentenced to five years in prison
• 1964 - Charged again, sentenced to life
• 1990 - Freed from prison
• 1993 - Wins Nobel Peace Prize
• 1994 - Elected first black president
• 1999 - Steps down as leader
• 2001 - Diagnosed with prostate cancer
• 2004 - Retires from public life
• 2005 - Announces his son has died of an HIV/Aids-related illness
• 2007 - Forms The Elders group
• 2010 - Appears at closing ceremony of World Cup