In providing reasons for the decision of the Pretoria High Court to set the investigation of the Browde Commission into South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) Affairs aside, Justice William de Villiers said that the evidence of President Nelson Mandela was unsatisfactory because he refused to answer certain questions, answered back and used the court for political rhetoric. The President's Office indicated its intention to appeal against the court's decision, while SARFU boss Dr Louis Luyt announced his own independent investigation into allegations of racism, nepotism and corruption within the rugby body.

Basil 'Manenberg' Coetzee (54), South African jazz musician who played with Abdullah Ibrahim (also known as Dollar Brand) died during the night of 11 March 1998 after a long struggle with cancer.

The former South Africa Minister of Education, Dr. Sibusiso Bengu warned the University of Stellenbosch that it could not continue to be an exclusively Afrikaans-speaking University within a new democratic South Africa. This followed the University's refusal to comply with the new regulations for integrated higher education, which included an inclusive medium of instruction. Since its establishment in 1866, Stellenbosch University had maintained a white Afrikaner student body through the use of the Afrikaans language as the medium of instruction. Although, some English speaking White South Africans attended, they were sufficiently bilingual to cope with being taught in Afrikaans. This situation emerged out of the National Party government's policy of separate segregated education. Higher Education was thus implemented inequitably through separate administrative divisions to serve different race groups. Education institutions were exclusive to particular race groups. The White Institutions were further divided into those which, used as their main medium of communication and instruction, either Afrikaans (which was the home language of most people in government) or English. Language exclusivity helped to prevent institutions designated for the use of one race group from enrolling or allowing students of other races to mix with theirs.

The seven-month trial of former Minister of Defence Magnus Malan ended on 11 October when he and other officials were cleared of all charges relating to the murder of thirteen people in KwaMakutha in 1987. The case centred on allegations that the former government had waged a dirty war against its opponents. Judge Jan Hugo concluded his judgment, acquitting Malan and other nine defendants. Hugo acknowledged that the killing was the deed of Inkatha vigilantes on the payroll of the South African Defence Force (SADF), however the prosecution did not bring enough evidence to substantiate their claim. President Nelson Mandela fully accepted the court's decision and asked those that might have been directly affected by the ordeal to accept it. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), promised that even if they were acquitted, the TRC was still likely to call them to account as it was in a better position of extracting the truth than the courts.

President Nelson Mandela confirmed that hotel magnate and socialite Sol Kerzner did indeed make a contribution to the ANC electoral funds as alleged by Bantu Holomisa, but stated that he has told no-one else in the African National Congress (ANC) about the donation. Mandela's confirmation vindicated Holomisa who was branded a liar by most of the senior officials within the ANC. Holomisa demanded a public apology from the ANC, but a bitter and clearly agitated Mandela refused. Notwithstanding this admission, the ANC's Disciplinary Committee ousted Holomisa from his seat in Parliament on 1 October 1996 after finding him guilty of misconduct and bringing the party into disrepute by this and other allegations. Click here to read President Mandela's confirmation in details.

On 25 May 1996, two South Africans - Ian Woodall and Cathy O'Dowd, reached the summit of Mount Everest. This was the first official South African team to conquer the highest mountain in the world. Their jubilation was dampened when a member of their team, British photographer Bruce Herrod, went missing. He had reportedly reached the summit hours later, and is thought to have died on his descent. Until the end of apartheid, South Africans had not been able to get a permit for Everest. The expedition was initiated by Ian Woodall, who became the leader. South African president at the time, Nelson Mandela, was patron of the expedition. The climbing team was riddled with conflict for much of the expedition. Cathy O'Dowd went on to reach the summit of Everest again in 1999, this time from the Northern side. This made her the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest from both the southern (25 May 1996) and northern sides (29 May 1999).

The adoption of the South African Constitution on 8 May 1996 was one of the turning points in the history of the struggle for democracy in South Africa. The Constitution is considered by many as one of the most advanced in the world, with a Bill of Rights second to none. South Africa's Constitution was drafted by an all-inclusive constitutive assembly, which had representatives from all the major political parties and liberation organisations. The constitutional assembly sat between May 1994 and October 1996 drafting and completing the new constitution. The new Constitution was the embodiment of the vision of generations of anti-apartheid freedom fighters and democrats who had fought for the principle that South African belonged to all, for non racialism and for human rights.

Four years after the unbanning of the liberation movements and release of political prisoners, SA held its first multi-racial elections. The elections resulted in the establishment of the new Government of National Unity (GNU) led by the African National Congress (ANC). Three parties, the ANC (who won the election), the National Party (NP), and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) shared the executive power. Nelson Mandela became the first democratically elected president of South Africa. The GNU system of government lasted until the general elections in 1999. References: Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau. http://www.andibradley.com/whatya/apr26.htm http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2898.htm

Lesotho's Deputy Prime Minister, Selometsi Baholo, is shot dead by dissident soldiers during an apparent kidnapping attempt. They also seize four cabinet ministers, Shakhane Mokhehle, Monyane Moleleki, Pakalitha Mosisili and Kelebone Maope in the mutiny over a planned government probe into the army. Parliament, whose members probably fear for their own safety, adjourns immediately. Lesotho's President Mokhehle appeals for South African intervention, but his request is turned down. Despite South Africa's refusal of military assistance, South African Defence Force (SADF) is asked to contact its Lesotho counterparts to urge them to keep the situation calm for fear of a military coup or the imposition of sanctions on the tiny kingdom by the international community. http://www.andibradley.com/whatya/apr14.htm http://edition.cnn.com/almanac/9804/14/

The inter-racial Women's National Coalition (WNC) Conference (25-27 February 1994), started in the World Trade Centre, Kempton Park. The conference focused primarily on the drafting of a Women's Charter and the future of the Women's National Coalition. The Women's Charter was adopted on the last day of the conference. The final Charter was prefaced with an 'Important Note' stating that 'while the Women's Charter has been adopted by the WNC ...the women's organisations which are part of the WNC retain their freedom to reserve their position on particular clauses with which they do not wish to associate themselves.'