Once upon a time Nelson Mandela was the most wanted man in South Africa, but on the 11th of February 1990, he walked out of Victor Verster Prison. And at this moment, history was transformed forever. So, what made his release so significant and why is it one of the most iconic moments in history?
Firstly, Mandela’s release from prison is iconic and significant as it seemed so unlikely. In 1990, Mandela had already spent 27 years in prison, after being given a life sentence, and was labelled a communist and terrorist by the government. Therefore, if he was released, many in South Africa’s government feared that this would be perceived as an endorsement of his beliefs.
Furthermore, at first, because he was labelled a communist and a terrorist, many world governments were less willing to pressure South Africa to release him, with the Cold War occurring at this time. This included, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and US President Ronald Reagan who initially feared that the sanctions would cause poverty and starvation.
Secondly, many feared that Mandela could use his popularity to rally and unite Black South Africans and take revenge for the Apartheid regime. Therefore, in 1964, it became illegal to quote or carry a picture of Mandela. Furthermore, by 1988, Mandela was a popular figure and violent protests were increasing, which proved that the collapse of the Apartheid regime was inevitable. This caused President F.W de Klerk to negotiate with Mandela, to avoid a Civil War.
Thirdly, by 1989, many world governments were pressuring South Africa to dismantle racial policies and release Mandela. A prime example of this was in 1986, when 7 Commonwealth leaders signed economic sanctions to force a regime change in South Africa. Initially FW de Klerk protested, arguing that they affected all citizens, with South Africa’s economic growth being reduced by 1.5%. However, with the economic burden becoming too great, this led to Mandela being released, as the sanctions caused the Rand to drop in currency and limited South Africa’s trading partners.
In addition, Mandela’s release was significant as it encouraged national reconciliation, particularly through him picking a diverse government. This was important as it reduced fears of a civil war and proved that Mandela was willing to work with FW de Klerk to establish a new regime, post-apartheid. Furthermore, Mandela also encouraged national reconciliation through his desire for South Africa to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup and wish for all South Africans to support the Springboks. While this initially proved tricky, with the Rugby team being seen as a symbol of the Apartheid regime, Mandela was able to unite the country by wearing the Springbok jersey and actively supporting the team in public.
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Bibliography
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/23/israel-apartheid-boycotts-sanctions-south-africa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_sanctions_during_apartheid
https://www.theguardian.com/world/1993/sep/25/southafrica.davidberesford