This Day in History: 1994-04-27
On this day in 1994 South Africa held its first universal suffrage elections allowing the black majority to vote for the first time. Laws against the rights of the majority black population began in 1913 (just three years after their independence) but they became rigidly enforced when the Nationalist Party gained power in 1948. The relaxation of apartheid laws came about under the government of President F.W. de Klerk due to negotiations with Nelson Mandela. Mandela spent many years fighting the injustice of his country and spent 27 years in prison finally released in 1990. He was imprisoned for gorilla tactics against the oppressive government and was offered early release on several occasions if he agreed not to oppose their laws. He remained rigid in his fight for an end to apartheid and on the 18th of March 1992 the white minority voted in favour of an end to the Apartheid. The elections on this day saw 19.7 million of the 22.7 million eligible voters participate and the African National Congress (ANC) headed by Nelson Mandela won with 62.65% of the votes (more than 40% above their closest competitor ‘The National Party’ who received 20.39%). Nelson Mandela became the first President of South Africa to be elected in universal suffrage elections. Every year South Africans celebrate the 27th of April as their ‘Freedom Day’.