From “terrorist” to “freedom fighter” – Five entities who changed their tune on Nelson Mandela

Margaret Thatcher

The former UK prime minister called Mandela’s African National Congress, a “terrorist organisation” at a 1987 Commonwealth summit in Vancouver, Canada.

Thatcher did not name Mandela as a terrorist but with the future South African president’s membership of the ANC, the conclusions were easy for people to draw. These conclusions were supported in part, by the fact that Thatcher’s UK refused to put sanctions on apartheid South Africa.

RELATED STORIES

Kobe Bryant's daughter also killed in helicopter crash

100-year-old becomes one of just four Tuskegee Airmen to achieve the rank of general

This 20-year-old makes history as first black to become a Rhodes, Truman, and Udall scholar

These Ghanaian geniuses are converting plastic wastes into fuel

Later, Thatcher would call for the release of Mandela from jail, saying it was important to any progress in South Africa.