Sandton Square in Johannesburg is renamed Nelson Mandela Square with the unveiling of a 6-metre tall bronze statue in his image.

Announces his retirement from public life at the age of 85.

Flies to Bangkok to speak at the XV International Aids Conference.

Johannesburg bestows its highest honour by granting Mandela the freedom of the city.

His son, Makgatho, dies of Aids and Mandela famously reveals the cause of death in a climate of government denialism.

Eldest grandson, Mandla, installed as chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council, a position his grandfather gave up to fight white rule.

The Nelson Mandela Institute for Education and Rural Development is launched in partnership with Unicef.

Turns 90 years old to worldwide commemoration and asks the emerging generation to continue the fight for social justice.

Votes for the fourth time in his life in the country's general elections.

Attends the inauguration of South Africa’s fourth democratically elected president, Jacob Zuma.

United Nations declares July 18 Mandela Day as a tribute to his contribution to world freedom.

The Hollywood movie Invictus is released, based on Mandela's role in the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Makes a rare public appearance in Parliament in Cape Town as the country celebrates the 20th anniversary of his release from prison.

Pulls out of appearing at the World Cup opening ceremony in South Africa after the death of his great-granddaughter in a car crash the night before.

Mandela's great-granddaughter Zenani dies in a car crash after the Fifa World Cup kick-off concert.

Appears briefly on the pitch at the closing ceremony of the Soccer World Cup at Soccer City.

His last surviving sibling Nokuthamba dies.

International Nelson Mandela Day is launched to commemorate the former statesman's 67 years in active politics. People have been called on to do 67 minutes of charity in Madiba's honour.

Nelson Mandela's infant great-grandson Zenawe Zibuyile Mandela, born to his granddaughter Zoleka Mandela, dies after being born three months prematurely.

Mandela relocates from Houghton to his home in Qunu.

Nelson Mandela celebrates his 94th birthday.

The US secretary of state Hillary Clinton visits 94-year-old Mandela at his home village of Qunu. At the time, the Nobel peace laureate spent more time in Qunu and in May, it was announced he would remain there indefinitely.

Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus says Mandela is excited about the new banknotes bearing his image. "He is delighted, very excited about it. We did show him the designs, the drafts and everything else," she said.

Mandela is hospitalised at a Pretoria hospital and diagnosed with a recurring lung infection and gallstones.

Mandela undergoes surgery to remove gallstones. "This morning [Saturday] the former president underwent a procedure via endoscopy to have the gallstones removed," presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a statement. "The procedure was successful and Madiba is recovering. The medical team decided to attend to a lung infection before determining when to attend to the gallstones."

Mandela is discharged after 19 days in hospital during which he was treated for a lung infection and gallstones which were surgically removed.

Mandela's family has appealed to the public to stop spreading rumours about his health. Mandela's grandchild Zaziwe Manaway reportedly told Eyewitness News that Mandela was "alert". "He is very alert. My grandfather still wakes up in the morning [and] reads the newspaper so he is also aware of what is being said about him," Manaway told the news station.

The presidency says that Mandela has been admitted to the Pretoria hospital for a scheduled medical check-up. Maharaj said doctors are conducting tests and have indicated so far that there is "no reason for any alarm".

Mandela is discharged from hospital and returns to his Johannesburg home.

The presidency says Mandela has been admitted to an undisclosed hospital due to a recurrence of his lung infection. The admittance to hospital comes three months after the 94-year-old former president was admitted to hospital in the capital Pretoria on December 8, also for a lung infection and to remove gallstones.

Mandela remains in hospital where he received treatment for pneumonia.

Mandela is discharged after a nine-day hospital stay. He was admitted to hospital on March 27. Since then he has had fluid drained from his lungs to ease his breathing.

The Star newspaper reports Mandela's daughters, Makaziwe and Zenani Mandela, make a court application to have George Bizos, businessperson and politician Tokyo Sexwale and lawyer Bally Chuene removed from Harmonieux Investment Holdings and Magnifique Investment Holdings. Both companies were established by Mandela's former lawyer Ismail Ayob to channel proceeds of Mandela's handprints into the accounts of the companies for Mandela and his children's benefit.

Mandela's wife Graca Machel releases a statement to say the former president is recovering well at home after being released from hospital earlier in April.

The SABC broadcasts exclusive footage of an ailing Mandela on its evening news bulletin, showing him sitting impassively with a blanket over his legs. "We had some conversation with him, shook hands, he was smiling," Zuma told the SABC. "He's really up and about, [and] stabilised. We are very happy, we think he is fine." SABC News had footage of Mandela sitting in a chair flanked by Zuma, ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, party chairperson Baleka Mbete and his medical team. Mandela looked blankly at the camera, while everyone around him stood chatting and laughing. A frail Mandela was seen closing his eyes as someone's camera flash clearly affected his eyes. Mandela is known to have sensitive eyes after years of working in a limestone quarry when he was imprisoned on Robben Island.

The ANC defends its Madiba visit and says it was in line with ubuntu values. ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu released a statement after being criticised in the media and on social media platforms. Thousands vented their anger at the highly publicised visit on social media, prompting Mthembu to respond.

Mandela's daughters are suing him for the rights to his artworks and control of his millions. According to the Star newspaper, Zenani and Makaziwe Mandela intend fighting an April 2004 Johannesburg High Court order which gave Mandela the right to instruct Ismail Ayob, his then lawyer, to stop managing his financial, personal and legal affairs. The court order barred Ayob from selling any of Mandela's artworks. The Star reports that Mandela's current lawyer, Bally Chuene, filed an affidavit in response to a lawsuit brought by the sisters, who are represented by Ayob.

A teaser poster and trailer for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is unveiled at the prestigious 66th Cannes Film Festival.

Mandela is admitted to the Pretoria hospital due to a recurring lung infection. "This morning at about 1.30am his condition deteriorated and he was transferred to a Pretoria hospital," Maharaj said in a statement. "He remains in a serious but stable condition." Maharaj says doctors were doing everything they could to make Mandela "better and comfortable".

Maharaj says Mandela is receiving intensive care at the Pretoria hospital. "Today the doctors are saying his condition is unchanged."

Zuma says Mandela is responding to hospital treatment. Speaking in the National Assembly, Zuma said: "We are happy to report that former president Nelson Mandela is responding to treatment. We are happy with the progress he is making during these difficult days. We appreciate the support from the international community. We are proud to call him our own. We ask you to continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers."

Nelson Mandela's wife breaks her silence and thanks South Africa for the outpouring of "love and generosity" during Madiba's stay in hospital. She said in a statement the outpouring of affection and support had come from South Africans, Africans and from across the globe, in the form of emails, letters, social media networks and "the human voice".

Nelson Mandela's wife breaks her silence and thanks South Africa for the outpouring of "love and generosity" during Madiba's stay in hospital. She said in a statement the outpouring of affection and support had come from South Africans, Africans and from across the globe, in the form of emails, letters, social media networks and "the human voice".

Ndaba Mandela thanked people around the world for sending well-wishes to his grandfather Madiba who, he says, is expected to be discharged from hospital soon.

CBS reports that Nelson Mandela has been "unresponsive and has not opened his eyes for days", despite government reports that he is recovering. According to the American news network, a "new source" alleges that Mandela has been "unresponsive for days" at the Pretoria hospital where he is receiving treatment and that his liver and kidney functions are down to 50%. CBS also claims that Mandela's ambulance broke down two weeks ago on the way to hospital - stranding him for 40 minutes.

The presidency confirms the military ambulance that transported Mandela to hospital broke down due to "engine problems". "All care was taken to ensure that Madiba's medical condition was not compromised by the unforeseen incident," Maharaj says. "Doctors attending to Madiba are satisfied that the former president suffered no harm during this period."

The presidency releases a statement that Mandela's condition is critical.

Close relatives of Mandela and chiefs of the Abathembu royal family gather at his home in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape following an urgent call reportedly made by his children. A few cars had been seen at the Mandela family gravesite in Qunu, while the relatives called an urgent meeting in the village to brief the elders.

CNN and the Citizen reports Mandela is on life support, and Maharaj says commenting on the matter would break doctor/patient confidentiality.

Zuma cancels a trip to neighbouring Mozambique, intensifying speculation about deterioration of the health of Mandela, who has been receiving treatment for a lung infection for nearly three weeks.

The presidency says Mandela's condition has improved and is now stable, but still critical and that his condition stabilised overnight. The presidency announced: "President Jacob Zuma visited former president Nelson Mandela in hospital in Pretoria today, June 27, and was informed by the medical team that Madiba's condition has improved during the course of the night."

The presidency denies that Mandela is in a "vegetative state" after AFP reports to that effect, and court documents in a battle between his family over where he should be buried show that he is on life support.