May 9, 1994: Nelson Mandela is Elected President of South Africa On this day in 1994, South Africa’s parliament elected Nelson Mandela as the country’s next president. The next day, Mandela was inaugurated, becoming the nation’s first black president and a symbol of change in the post-apartheid era.  Nelson Mandela’s election was even more triumphant, as he had spent 27 years in prison for his involvement in the anti-apartheid and anti-colonial movement. While in prison, Mandela had been confined to a small cell with the floor his bed, a bucket for a toilet, and he was forced to do hard labor in a quarry. He was allowed one visitor a year for 30 minutes. He could write and receive one letter every six months. Through his intelligence, charm and dignified defiance, Nelson Mandela eventually bent even the most brutal prison officials to his will, assumed leadership over his jailed comrades and became the master of his own prison. He emerged from it the mature leader who would fight and win the great political battles that would create a new democratic South Africa. Learn more about Nelson Mandela’s time in prison and his early years as a revolutionary with FRONTLINE’s The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela site. Photo: South African National Congress (ANC) President Nelson Mandela gives a clenched fist to supporters upon his arrival for his first election rally on March 15, 1994 (WALTER DHLADHLA/AFP/Getty Images).
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May 9, 1994: Nelson Mandela is Elected President of South Africa

On this day in 1994, South Africa’s parliament elected Nelson Mandela as the country’s next president. The next day, Mandela was inaugurated, becoming the nation’s first black president and a symbol of change in the post-apartheid era. 

Nelson Mandela’s election was even more triumphant, as he had spent 27 years in prison for his involvement in the anti-apartheid and anti-colonial movement. While in prison, Mandela had been confined to a small cell with the floor his bed, a bucket for a toilet, and he was forced to do hard labor in a quarry. He was allowed one visitor a year for 30 minutes. He could write and receive one letter every six months.

Through his intelligence, charm and dignified defiance, Nelson Mandela eventually bent even the most brutal prison officials to his will, assumed leadership over his jailed comrades and became the master of his own prison. He emerged from it the mature leader who would fight and win the great political battles that would create a new democratic South Africa.

Learn more about Nelson Mandela’s time in prison and his early years as a revolutionary with FRONTLINE’s The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela site.

Photo: South African National Congress (ANC) President Nelson Mandela gives a clenched fist to supporters upon his arrival for his first election rally on March 15, 1994 (WALTER DHLADHLA/AFP/Getty Images).

November 6, 1962: United Nations Condemns Apartheid50 years ago today, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that condemned the racist apartheid policies of South Africa and encouraged all its member nations to cease economic and military relations with the country.Apartheid, South Africa’s government-sanctioned racial segregation, was in effect in from 1948 to 1993. This extreme segregation mandated political and economic discrimination against South Africa’s non-whites, who constitute the majority of the country’s population. Explore Masterpiece’s “Apartheid Timeline,” which highlights events that both strengthened and weakened apartheid. Photo: A policeman checks the identity card of a black citizen, South Africa 1960. (Getty Images)
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November 6, 1962: United Nations Condemns Apartheid

50 years ago today, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that condemned the racist apartheid policies of South Africa and encouraged all its member nations to cease economic and military relations with the country.

Apartheid, South Africa’s government-sanctioned racial segregation, was in effect in from 1948 to 1993. This extreme segregation mandated political and economic discrimination against South Africa’s non-whites, who constitute the majority of the country’s population.

Explore Masterpiece’s “Apartheid Timeline,” which highlights events that both strengthened and weakened apartheid.

Photo: A policeman checks the identity card of a black citizen, South Africa 1960. (Getty Images)

Source: to.pbs.org

June 16, 1976: The Soweto UprisingOn this day in 1976, what began as a non-violent demonstration by students in Soweto, South Africa, quickly escalated into a violent uprising, now known as the Soweto Uprising.Watch a clip from Independent Lens’ “Have You Heard from Johannesburg” depicting the scene in Soweto on that day.
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June 16, 1976: The Soweto Uprising

On this day in 1976, what began as a non-violent demonstration by students in Soweto, South Africa, quickly escalated into a violent uprising, now known as the Soweto Uprising.

Watch a clip from Independent Lens’ “Have You Heard from Johannesburg” depicting the scene in Soweto on that day.

Source: to.pbs.org

May 10, 1994: Nelson Mandela Becomes President of South Africa On this day in 1994, Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as South Africa’s first black president. Mandela had spent 27 years imprisoned for working in the anti-apartheid movement. FRONTLINE’s “The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela” site takes an inside look at his childhood, revolutionary years, imprisonment, and personal life.
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May 10, 1994: Nelson Mandela Becomes President of South Africa

On this day in 1994, Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as South Africa’s first black president. Mandela had spent 27 years imprisoned for working in the anti-apartheid movement.

FRONTLINE’s “The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela” site takes an inside look at his childhood, revolutionary years, imprisonment, and personal life.

Source: to.pbs.org

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