Nelson Mandela's release took place on February 11, 1990 and is considered a significant historical event in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Nelson Mandela was a political leader and anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned by the South African government for 27 years because of his fight for racial equality and human rights.
His release was the result of lengthy negotiations and international pressure on the South African leadership to end apartheid. South African President Frederik Willem de Klerk, who had assumed office in 1989, embarked on a series of political reforms and pledged to end racial segregation in the country.
On 2 February 1990, de Klerk announced in a speech to the South African Parliament his intention to release Mandela and dismantle the apartheid system. On 11 February, after 27 years of imprisonment, Nelson Mandela was finally released from Victor Verster prison near Cape Town in front of a crowd of supporters and international journalists.
Mandela's release marked the beginning of a new chapter in South African history. After his release, Mandela became a key figure in the negotiations for a peaceful transition to a multiracial democratic government. In 1994, South Africa held its first democratic elections in which all citizens could vote, including blacks who had previously been excluded from the political system.
Nelson Mandela became the first president of democratic South Africa, playing a vital role in rebuilding the country and promoting national reconciliation. His release and subsequent ascent to the presidency stood as a symbol of hope and progress in the fight against racial discrimination and oppression.
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