IN THE AFTERMATH OF DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS - May 1994 - December 1996
Introduction
The South African elections of April 1994 have been widely hailed as a 'political miracle' and the subsequent installation of South Africa's first democratically elected government referred to as the result of a 'negotiated revolution'.
As predicted, there ensued a dramatic cooling of the political temperature manifested in a rapid and marked decline in the political death-toll in the months that followed. Also, as expected, no major force with any significant muscle emerged to challenge the validity of the election results or to pose a threat to their acceptance. On the contrary, a realignment of the political landscape, imagined or actual, has taken place with the departure or evaporation of some previous aspirant stakeholders in political power; and with the re-positioning of others anxious to retain whatever power possible from their apartheid inheritance.
Calender of major events after elections
Date |
Event |
1994 |
May |
Inauguration of Nelson Mandela as president. |
1995 |
June |
Truth and Reconciliation Commission approved by parliament. |
1996 |
May |
Local government elections in Western Cape (29th). |