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Setting the scene
By 1990, Nelson Mandela had been imprisoned for 27 years for opposing apartheid, South Africa's system of racial segregation. Arrested in 1962 and sentenced to life in 1964 for sabotage, Mandela became the world's most famous political prisoner. While in prison on Robben Island, he earned a law degree and became a symbol of resistance. By the late 1980s, South Africa faced international sanctions, economic crisis, and internal unrest. President F.W. de Klerk, who took office in 1989, recognized apartheid was unsustainable and began secret negotiations with Mandela.
What happened
On February 11, 1990, at 4:14 p.m., Nelson Mandela walked out of Victor Verster Prison near Cape Town, hand-in-hand with his wife Winnie, raising his fist in salute. He was 71 years old. The release was broadcast live worldwide. In his first speech, delivered to 50,000 people in Cape Town, Mandela declared, 'I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people.' He called for continued struggle but also for negotiations to end apartheid. The release followed de Klerk's announcement on February 2 that the ban on the African National Congress would be lifted.
Why it still matters
Mandela's release began South Africa's transition from apartheid to democracy. He led negotiations that resulted in the first multiracial elections in 1994, which he won, becoming South Africa's first Black president. Mandela's commitment to reconciliation—establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission rather than seeking revenge—prevented civil war and became a model for post-conflict societies. His release demonstrated the power of moral leadership and the effectiveness of international pressure and sanctions. Mandela became a global icon of forgiveness and human rights, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. His release marked the beginning of the end of the last institutionalized racial segregation system.
Background
He became South Africa's president four years later.