The world watched in awe as South Africans of all races formed patient queues stretching for kilometers on April 26, 1994. This was a significant moment in South African history, marking the end of 46 years of apartheid rule. For three extraordinary days (extended to accommodate unprecedented turnout), 19.7 million citizens, who had been brutally divided by apartheid’s racial classifications, stood shoulder-to-shoulder to vote. Elderly Black South Africans, some walking for days to reach polling stations, waited calmly beside white Afrikaner farmers. Township residents who had fought security forces during the 1980s now exchanged smiles with former soldiers.

The Long Road to Democracy

This watershed moment capped four years of delicate negotiations and painful compromises:

• February 1990: Mandela walked free after 27 years in prison, and his release was broadcast globally.
• 1991-1993: The Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) talks, a series of negotiations aimed at ending apartheid and establishing a multiracial democracy, nearly collapsed multiple times amid violence. The African National Congress, a key player in these talks, was a political party that had been banned under apartheid and was now advocating for a democratic South Africa.
• April 1993: Communist leader Chris Hani’s assassination sparked nationwide riots, testing the peace process.
• Election week: Right-wing bombings and Inkatha Freedom Party boycott threats created last-minute chaos.

Yet when the ballots were counted, the African National Congress secured 62.6% of the votes.

Global Repercussions of a Democratic Dawn

The elections transformed South Africa’s international standing overnight:

• May 10, 1994: Mandela’s inauguration ceremony featured his former jailers in the new cabinet.
• 1996: The revolutionary ‘Rainbow Nation’ constitution, so named for its inclusivity and diversity, banned discrimination on 17 grounds. This was a significant step towards building a more equal and just society in post-apartheid South Africa.
• Economic shift: Sanctions lifted as South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth after 33 years.

Enduring Legacy

While contemporary South Africa grapples with inequality and corruption, the 1994 elections remain a touchstone:

• Freedom Day (April 27): Now a national holiday celebrating democratic rights.
• Voter participation still exceeds 60%, a testament to the hard-won right to vote.
• Symbolic power: Mandela’s original ballot box is on display at the Apartheid Museum.