Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratic President

Updated: 10 May 2022

After South Africa's first national democratic elections in April 1994, Nelson Mandela was sworn in as South Africa's first democratic President at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 10 May 1994.. He replaced the outgoing National Party leader F.W. de Klerk as President. Mandela spent the first 18 of his 27 years in jail at the Robben Island Prison. In June 1990 he retired from politics at the age of 80.

How we know this

01South Africa info, The world at Mandela’s feet, from Sowetan Newspaper, [online],Available at www.southafrica.info[Accessed: 6 May 2014]

Last updated · 10 May 2022

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2014, May 9). Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratic President. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097593

South African History Online (2014) 'Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratic President', South African History Online, 9 May. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097593 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

South African History Online, Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratic President [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097593, (accessed 12 October 2026).

"Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratic President." South African History Online, 9 May 2014, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097593. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratic President." South African History Online. May 9, 2014. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097593.