Thabo Mbeki was born in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, on 18 June 1942. Mbeki's father played a leading role in the activities of the African National Congress (ANC) . Mbeki's parents always tried to improve the conditions of their community and took part in programs to provide food to the poor. As a result, at the age of 14 he joined several student political organizations, including the African National Congress Youth League. He completed his studies at home when a strike in 1959 got him expelled and ended his studies at Lovedale Academy. He later moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he became secretary of the African Students Association (ASA). He also met Nelson Mandela, for the first time. Mandela advised Mbeki to continue his studies outside South Africa. As a result, Mbeki went to London, enrolled at the University of Sussex and graduated with a master's degree in economics (“Thabo Mbeki”; “PROFILE OF FORMER PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI”). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayMbeki left London and went to Zambia in April 1971 to take up the post of assistant secretary of the Revolutionary Council of the ANC. Within months of his arrival in Zambia, Mbeki gave his first speech on behalf of the ANC at the YSS summer school. The speech, A Dream Deferred, motivated many to fight apartheid. During the 1980s, Mbeki became the head of the Information and Publicity Department and organized many strategic campaigns designed to involve more white South Africans in anti-apartheid activities. Thabo Mbeki gave a speech calling for alliances in the fight against apartheid, which was broadcast on numerous radio and television stations. In 1989 Mbeki became head of the ANC's international affairs department and was involved in the ANC's negotiations with the ruling government during the 1990s to end apartheid (“Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki”; “Thabo Mbeki” ). Thabo Mbeki played a very significant role in the fight against apartheid. In fact, he may be the most important anti-apartheid leader currently alive. Already at an early age he was very active in student politics and played a leading role in the creation of the youth and student sections of the ANC in exile. Upon his return to Lusaka, he became political secretary in Oliver Tambo's office, and then director of information. From this position, he played a significant role in attracting the attention of the international media and turning it against apartheid. Gaining support from the global press is undoubtedly the most important event that led to the end of apartheid in South Africa. This event made most of the world aware of apartheid and the massacres that occurred because of apartheid. As a result, a wide variety of political organizations entered into negotiations with the ruling National Party to end apartheid (“Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki”).