Mandela walked out of Vester Prison on 11th February 1990, as arranged by President de Klerk. After his address to the huge crowd gathered at the Grand Parade in Cape Town, in which he thanked all those, individuals and organisations, the world over who had campaigned for his release, Mandela spent his first night as a free man, with wife Winnie, at the house of Nobel Prize Winner (1984) and anti-apartheid promoter Archbishop Desmond Tutu, at Bishropscourt which, though in a white suburban area of Cape Town, has by now become multi-racial under his tenure. ANC chairman Oliver Tambo, in exile for long and now convalescent after the stroke to which he fell victim in August 1989, spoke to an excited Mandela over the phone from Sweden.

On the very afternoon of the day he was released, Mandela gave a press conference, his first not held clandestinely. Besides, it was covered by the audio-visual and print media, both local and foreign, about which, being in jail all the time, he had up to now no idea. For the first time, he was confronted by television cameras. He declared that, as ?a loyal and disciplined member of the ANC?, he would accept ?to play whatever role (it) ordered?. Moreover, he remarked: ?There is no contradiction between (his) continuing support for the armed struggle and (his) advocating negotiations. It is the reality and the threat of the armed struggle that have brought the government to the verge of negotiations. When the State will stop inflicting violence on the ANC, the ANC will reciprocate with peace.? About sanctions, he observed: ?The absence of political rights for Blacks is the status quo. I may be out of jail, but not yet free.? He also commented: ?I know that people expect me to harbour anger towards Whites. But I have none. In prison, my anger towards Whites has decreased, but my hatred for the system has grown. We do not want to destroy the country before we free it, and to drive the Whites away will devastate the nation. There is a middle ground between white fears and black hopes. Any man or woman who abandons apartheid will be embraced in our struggle for a democratic, non-racial South Africa.?

Present at the ANC national executive committee meeting in Lusaka on 27th February 1990, Mandela was elected deputy president. He then toured Africa, being given a heroic welcome in each country he visited. Thereafter, he flew to Sweden to see his old friend and former law partner Oliver Tambo who did his best to convince him to take over from him the ANC chairmanship, which he refused. In London, Mandela attended in April 1990 a concert at Wembley in his honour. Requested to speak for the television covering it live for viewers worldwide, he took the opportunity ?to thank the world?s anti-apartheid forces for the tremendous work they had done in pressuring for sanctions for the release of myself and fellow-political prisoners and for the genuine support and solidarity they had shown for the oppressed people of my country.?

During his tour of Europe and North America in June 1990, Mandela endeavoured to enlist the Western countries? support to continue imposing economic sanctions against South Africa, as they were to suspend them thinking that the regime had become really lenient. On his trip to France, Switzerland, Italy, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, the US and Canada, he tried to win over their leaders to the ANC cause. In Washington, he addressed a joint meeting of the Congress, thanking it ?for its anti-apartheid legislation? and ?urging it? not to suspend the sanctions. In Canada too, he spoke to its Parliament. In London, he twice parleyed with Prime minister Thatcher who, as it was nobody?s secret, was opposed to the ANC on issues such as sanctions. Upon his return home in July, Mandela visited Uganda, Kenya and Mozambique.

It was in December 1990 that Oliver Tambo came home after being in exile for 30 years. He took part in the ANC consultative conference in Johannesburg and attended by over 1,500 delegates from South Africa and abroad. Praising him, Mandela said that, during the 27 years that he was in jail, ?it was Oliver who saved the ANC and built it into an international organisation with power and influence. He took up the reins when most of its leaders were either in prison or exile. He was a soldier, a diplomat and a statesman.? Despite some criticisms, which he concurred with, regarding the leaders being ?out of touch with the grass roots? and spending ?more time with NP leaders than with (their) own people,? Mandela ?believed (he) had no alternative but to advance on the same course. (He) knew that (he) had to be more inclusive, brief more people as to (their) progress, and (he) proceeded with that in mind.?

The role played by the now 89-year old Mandela in the struggle for freedom in South Africa has been unique. It is synonymous with the country?s political development, resulting in the end of apartheid rule in 1994

At the July 1991 ANC annual conference, the first held in the country after 30 years, attended by 2,244 accredited delegates, Mandela was unanimously made president, assisted by, as general secretary, the younger Cyril Ramaphosa, a skilled negotiator, who had previously held that post for the National Mine Workers? Union. Within the first 17 months of its renewed legal existence, the ANC counted about 700,000 recruits.

In June 1991, Winnie Mandela was sentenced to six years? imprisonment, but released on bail, on kidnapping charges and for being an accomplice, though not taking part, in assault. Sitting between Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo, at a press conference held on 13 April 1992 in Johannesburg, Mandela announced his separation from wife Winnie.

In 1993, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with President de Klerk. Upon receiving this coveted award, he was grateful to the governments of Norway and of Sweden for spontaneously supporting in the 1950s-1960s the ANC?s cause when they were approached for assistance, providing scholarships and funds ?for legal defence and humanitarian aid for political prisoners,? whereas in Western countries ?we were turned down flat.? To those who criticised him for accepting a joint award, Mandela replied: ?To make peace with an enemy, one must work with that enemy and that enemy becomes your partner.?

End of the apartheid regime

The first democratic elections took place from 27 to 29 April 1994. Countless electors, including Mandela, voted for the first time. The results were proclaimed following a few days? counting. Winning 62.65% of the votes cast, less than the 66.7% required for rewriting the Constitution, the ANC bagged 252 of the 400 seats in the National Assembly, winning in all the provinces, except two. With 80, the NP scored 20.39% of the votes and was the main opposition during the campaign. Obtaining 10% of the votes, the IFP secured 43 seats, most of which in its stronghold of KwalaZulu-Natal. Both the NP and the IFP, together with the ANC, would form the Government of National Unity. However, the NP would withdraw in 1996.

Power was now to be transferred to the black majority after an over 300-year white rule. Mandela took upon himself ?the mission of preaching reconciliation, of binding the wounds of the country, of engendering trust and confidence,? knowing that ?many people, particularly the minorities, whites, Coloureds and Indians, would be feeling anxious about the future.. (whom he) wanted to be secure.?

On 10 May 1994 took place at the Union Buildings in Pretoria the inaugural ceremony in which Mandela (ANC) was sworn in as President. Thabo Mbeki (ANC) and F. W de Clerk (NP) became respectively the first and second deputy presidents. In his inaugural speech televised live worldwide, the new President Mandela said: "We, who were outlaws not so long ago, have today been given the rare privilege to be host to the nations of the world on our own soil. We thank all our distinguished international guests for having come to take possession with the people of our country of what is, after all, a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity."

At midnight on 26-27 April 1994 was hoisted the new national flag - black, red, green, blue and gold. Were also sung the two co-official national anthems ? that of the outgoing Republic, Die Stem (The Call), and the new one Nkosi Sikelel? iAfrika (God Bless Africa). Freedom Day is marked by a public holiday in South Africa on 27th April.

Chit DUKHIRA

Source: Mandela, Nelson, Long Walk To Freedom, Macdonald Purnel Pty Ltd, South Africa, 1994.