Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist, who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by tackling institutionalised racism and fostering racial reconciliation. Ideologically an African nationalist and socialist, he served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) party from 1991 to 1997. The Nobel Peace Prize 1993, announced October 15, 1993. Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk, “for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa”. Nelson Mandela: born 1918, Mvezo, South Africa. F.W. de Klerk: born 1936, Johannesburg, South Africa. Wiki link Wiki link Data: the Nobel Foundation (CC0).