Abstract
The truly remarkable nature of South Africa’s transition was captured in the election and the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as the new president during the last week of April and the first week of May 1994. Contrary to widespread expectations of violence descending into chaos, the three voting days were among the most peaceful in the country’s recent history. Whites and Blacks queued for hours — indeed days in some cases — to cast their votes. For South Africans, it became a deeply emotional experience, with the overwhelming majority of eligible voters participating in this first-ever democratic election. The atmosphere of euphoria carried through into the following week of national celebrations, culminating in an all-day gathering outside the former seat of White political domination, the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Music and dancing provided by South Africa’s best entertainers continued well into the night, and similar scenes of jubilation were repeated throughout the country.
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Adler, G., Webster, E. (1999). The Labour Movement, Radical Reform and the Transition to Democracy in South Africa. In: Munck, R., Waterman, P. (eds) Labour Worldwide in the Era of Globalization. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-27063-7_9
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