Which anti-apartheid activist was imprisoned for about 27 years by the South African government beginning in 1962?

Introduction / Context:
The struggle against apartheid in South Africa produced several iconic leaders, but one name stands out worldwide as a symbol of resistance, sacrifice, and reconciliation. This question focuses on identifying the anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned for about twenty seven years, starting in 1962, by the South African government. Knowing this fact is essential for history, politics, and general awareness sections of competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The time frame of imprisonment is about 27 years, starting in 1962.
• The person was an anti-apartheid activist in South Africa.
• Options include Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe, Nelson Mandela, Evelyn Mase, and Desmond Tutu.
• Only one of these leaders spent this length of time in prison and later became a global symbol of freedom.

Concept / Approach:
The central concept is to associate a well known historical fact with the correct leader. Nelson Mandela, a leader of the African National Congress, was arrested and eventually sentenced to life imprisonment for his activities against the apartheid regime. He spent about twenty seven years in various prisons, especially on Robben Island, before being released in 1990. No other leader in the options matches this exact detail of a 27 year imprisonment beginning in 1962. Identifying this connection leads directly to the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the key clues: anti-apartheid activist, imprisonment, 27 years, and the year 1962. Step 2: Recall that Nelson Mandela was arrested in the early 1960s and spent many years on Robben Island as a political prisoner. Step 3: Recognise that he later became President of South Africa and a symbol of reconciliation, which further fixed his story in world history. Step 4: Check the other names. Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe were also political figures, but they did not serve such a long prison term. Step 5: Confirm that only Nelson Mandela fits all the details and choose him as the answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification is easy because Nelson Mandela life story is widely taught. Biographies, documentaries, and school textbooks clearly state that he spent about twenty seven years in prison and was released in 1990, leading to the end of apartheid. Thabo Mbeki succeeded Mandela as President but did not have the same prison history. Desmond Tutu was a church leader and anti-apartheid activist who received the Nobel Peace Prize, but he was not imprisoned for decades. These distinctions confirm that Mandela is the only correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Thabo Mbeki is wrong because, while he was an important political leader and later President, he was not jailed for twenty seven years starting in 1962. Kgalema Motlanthe served briefly as President of South Africa but is not associated with such a long imprisonment. Evelyn Mase was Mandela first wife and not an anti-apartheid leader in the same sense. Desmond Tutu is celebrated as an archbishop and moral voice against apartheid, but he did not spend decades in prison. None of these options match the precise historical details presented in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse various South African leaders because the names appear together in articles and history chapters. Another mistake is to remember Mandela as an anti-apartheid leader but forget the specific length and starting date of his imprisonment, leading to uncertainty. A useful method is to link key numbers to major historical figures, such as 27 years in prison for Nelson Mandela and 30 years of war for the Vietnam conflict, so that the number itself becomes a memory anchor. This strategy improves recall when questions are framed around years and durations.

Final Answer:
The anti-apartheid activist imprisoned for about 27 years by the South African government beginning in 1962 was Nelson Mandela.