South Africans Mark
Two Decades Of Mandela Freedom
Tony Ekata, Johannesburg
It
is exactly twenty years ago that former South African President
F W de Klerk unbanned the African National Congress and
announced the release of anti-apartheid icon, Nelson Mandela
unconditionally.
South Africans are commemorating the anniversary on Tuesday,
with tributes to de Klerk.
The announcement in 1990, led to the ANC suspending its armed
struggle against the apartheid government a few months later and
the suspension of sanctions against South Africa.
The party eventually took over the government after peaceful
elections and Mandela's inauguration as the country's first
democratically-elected President in 1994.
Down memory lane
Mandela’s wife at the time, Winnie Madikizela Mandela said de
Klerk’s announcement was a culmination of what thousands of
people were fighting for, for many years.
“It was a fulfilment of a dream. It was a culmination of our
struggles and to us, as family, we were ecstatic. From that day
we knew the history of this country would never be the same,”
she said.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu remembers that he was
protesting against apartheid outside Parliament when the
historic announcement was made on February 2, 1990.
He said: “It was an incredible moment in the life of our
world and FW deserves very considerable credit for his courage.”
Inkatha Freedom Party leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi said he was
ecstatic when he heard the announcement.
Recalling the day, de Klerk said in a radio interview that
although he consulted with the big wigs of his party at the
time, a firm decision was taken not to disclose the plan.
“The whole cabinet was fully informed. We made a promise to
each other not even to tell our wives what would be announced
and for once the secret was kept,” he recalled.
He however lamented present problems in the country, especially
unemployment, the HIV pandemic and what he called the
unacceptably high crime levels.
Edited by Yinka Atolagbe
