I am an African. I owe my being to the hills and the valleys, the mountains and the glades, the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the flowers, the seas and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our native land.' Thabo Mbeki, 16 June 1999 Thabo Mbeki was elected President of South Africa in 1999. But little is known about the earlier years of this great statesman of Africa and the world. This book traces the life and adventures of Thabo Mbeki. You can read about his childhood years looking after his mother's store in the Transkei, his desperate escape into exile, the years spent in Europe and Africa, to the day he came to occupy the president's office. And you can find out something more about who this man is. They Fought for Freedom tells the life stories of southern African leaders who struggled for freedom and justice. In spite of the important roles they played in the history of southern Africa, most of these leaders have been largely ignored by the history books. The series tells their stories in an entertaining manner, in clear language and aims to restore them to their rightful place in history.