He was imprisoned on Robben Island where he remained for 18 of his 27 years in prison. While in prison, his reputation grew and he became known as the most significant black leader in South America. He had to do hard labor during his time on the island. Prisoners were segregated by race, black prisoners received the fewest rations. Political prisoners, like Mandela, were kept separate from ordinary criminals and received fewer privileges. Mandela was a D-group (the lowest classification) and had very few privileges, he could only have one visitor and one letter every six months. When he received the letters, they were made unreadable by the prison censors. While he was in prison, he studied with the University of London and received the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In March of 1982, Mandela was transferred from Robben Island to Pollsmoor Prison. In 1988, Mandela was moved to Victor Verster Prison where he would remain until his release. Many restrictions were lifted, he could have more visitors. During his imprisonment, local and international pressure mounted the South African government to release him.
Release
On February 2, 1990, President F.W. de Klerk reversed the ruling and announced that Mandela would shortly be released from prison. On the day of his release, he made a speech to the nation. In his speech, he stated his commitment to peace and understanding with the country’s white minority. He also made it clear that the ANC’s armed struggle was not over. He said that his main focus was to bring peace to the black majority and give them the right to vote.