He started studying law at the University of Witwatersrand. He decided to become a full time student in 1947, in the same year, he was elected to the executive committee of the Transvaal ANC; he served under regional president C.S. Ramohanoe. When Ramohanoe acted against the wishes of the Transvaal Executive Committee, Mandela was on of those whom forced his resignation. Communism and racism were becoming a big thing, and many people opposed it, including Mandela. He and many others took a stand and started groups or events such as the Defend Free Speech Convention. In 1950, Mandela was elected President of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). During this time he continued to argue against the facially-united front. He went against his thoughts on Communism after being influenced by the Marxist texts and embracing dialectical materialism.
On July 30, 1952, Mandela was arrested under the Suppression of Communicm Act and stood trial along with 21 of the others being accused. He was found guilty of statutory communism and had nine months of hard labor and was suspended for two years. In December, Mandela was given a six month ban from attending meetings or talking to more than one individual at a time. This was making his presidency in ANCYL difficult, he resigned. Mandela and his friend Oliver Tambo opened their own law firm in August of 1953. The law firm was the only African law firm in the country. It became popular with angry africans, often dealing with polic brutality. The law firm's office permit was removed by authorities under the Group Areas Act.
On July 30, 1952, Mandela was arrested under the Suppression of Communicm Act and stood trial along with 21 of the others being accused. He was found guilty of statutory communism and had nine months of hard labor and was suspended for two years. In December, Mandela was given a six month ban from attending meetings or talking to more than one individual at a time. This was making his presidency in ANCYL difficult, he resigned. Mandela and his friend Oliver Tambo opened their own law firm in August of 1953. The law firm was the only African law firm in the country. It became popular with angry africans, often dealing with polic brutality. The law firm's office permit was removed by authorities under the Group Areas Act.