even more devastating news comes in july 1969 when he received word that his eldest son, 25-year-old thembe in a car accident. >> you're informed with that feeling, your son is dead, your mother is dead. >> reporter: as devastating as the losses are, mandela does not let them interfere with his leadership role within the prison. with the vigor he has always exhibited, mandela champions for prisoners' rights. slowly life begins to improve on robben island. >> they got better food. they didn't have to work as hard. they were able to be in contact with the world. they got books and newspapers. >> reporter: his image, his words, even his name is banned in south africa. the government had hoped mandela and his codefendants on robben island would fade from the collective consciousness of those on the mainland. in reality, something else was happening entirely. mandela is far from forgotten. he is, in fact, becoming synonymous with the struggle. >>> when we return, the world is taking notice, and a new generation of south africans is growing more disaffected by oppression at the hands of apartheid