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.
eventREF E-0149096Verified
Event record
Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa's first democratic President
- Updated
- 22 Aug 2019
South African History Online. (2019, August 22). Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa's first democratic President. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149096
South African History Online (2019) 'Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa's first democratic President', South African History Online, 22 August. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149096 (Accessed: 15 October 2026).
South African History Online, Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa's first democratic President [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149096, (accessed 15 October 2026).
"Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa's first democratic President." South African History Online, 22 Aug. 2019, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149096. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa's first democratic President." South African History Online. August 22, 2019. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149096.
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