The Ripple Effects of Ministry

Ellis also found evidence that Mandela had been an active member of the South African
Communist Party during the late 1950s and early 1960s, something that was confirmed
after his death by both the ANC and the SACP, the latter of which claimed that he was
not only a member of the party, but also served on its Central Committee. His
membership had been hidden by the ANC, aware that knowledge of Mandela's former
SACP involvement might have been detrimental to his attempts to attract support from
Western countries. Mandela's view of these Western governments differed from those
of Marxist–Leninists, for he did not believe that they were anti-democratic or reactionary
and remained committed to democratic systems of governance.
The 1955 Freedom Charter, which Mandela had helped create, called for the
nationalization of banks, gold mines and land, to ensure equal distribution of
wealth. Despite these beliefs, Mandela initiated a program of privatization during his
presidency in line with trends in other countries of the time. It has been repeatedly
suggested that Mandela would have preferred to develop a social democratic economy
in South Africa but that this was not feasible as a result of the international political and
economic situation during the early 1990s. This decision was in part influenced by the
fall of the socialist states in the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc during the early 1990s.
Personality and Personal Life
Mandela on a visit to Australia in 2009;
he is wearing one of the brightly colored garments
that became known as "Madiba shirts"
Mandela was widely considered a charismatic
leader, described by biographer Mary Benson as "a
born mass leader who could not help magnetizing
people". He was highly image conscious and
throughout his life always sought out fine quality
clothes, with many commentators believing that he
carried himself in a regal manner. His aristocratic
heritage was repeatedly emphasized by supporters,
thus contributing to his "charismatic power". While
living in Johannesburg in the 1950s, he cultivated the image of the "African gentleman",
having "the pressed clothes, correct manners, and modulated public speech"
associated with such a position. In doing so, Lodge argued that Mandela became "one
of the first media politicians ... embodying a glamour and a style that projected visually a
brave new African world of modernity and freedom". Mandela was known to change his
clothes several times a day, and he became so associated with highly
coloured Batik shirts after assuming the presidency that they came to be known as
"Madiba shirts".
For political scientists Betty Glad and Robert Blanton, Mandela was an "exceptionally
intelligent, shrewd, and loyal leader". His official biographer, Anthony Sampson,
commented that he was a "master of imagery and performance", excelling at presenting
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