Mandela Becomes South Africa's 1st Black President - May 1994

Concluding a remarkable ascent to power after spending 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela was inaugurated in May as the first black president of South Africa. Blacks also held a majority in the new parliament, and the system of required racial separation, called apartheid, which had been imposed by white governments since the 1940s, ceased to exist. Mandela, a black nationalist leader who had been imprisoned for sabotage and treason, claimed victory, May 2, in the elections held in late April that had been open to citizens of all races. The runner-up in the election, the incumbent Pres. F.W. de Klerk, had been instrumental in freeing Mandela and bringing him into the political process. In election results announced May 6, Mandela's African National Congress (ANC) received 63% of the vote and de Klerk's National Party 20%. The Inkatha Freedom Party, which had agreed just before the election to participate, captured 10%. Seats in the 400-member National Assembly, which would choose the new president, were apportioned according to the vote for each party. The new assembly took office, May 9, and Mandela was the only candidate nominated for president. A throng of 100,000 heard Mandela speak, May 9, in Cape Town, and another large crowd, including 45 heads of state and other dignitaries from 130 countries, attended his inauguration, May 10. Vice Pres. Al Gore led the U.S. delegation. Mandela praised South Africa for having overcome the "extraordinary human disaster" of apartheid. The many white citizens who attended the ceremonies joined in the festival atmosphere. Mandela named de Klerk as one of his vice presidents. The cabinet was completed May 11. Its members included 18 from the ANC, 6 from the National Party, and 3 from Inkatha.