Twenty years ago this week the first ever multi-racial elections took place in South Africa putting an end to Apartheid
Blog by Jack Tannock, Media Volunteer
The process of ending Apartheid had begun in the late 1980s when the supposedly conservative White South African President F.W. de Klerk surprised many people by releasing all political prisoners and ending the ban on Nelson Mandela’s party, the African National Congress. The most important moment in this process was in early 1990 when Nelson Mandela was released from prison. When Mandela addressed a crowd of over 100,000 people Johannesburg he called for peace, for forgiveness and for both sides to come together to negotiate an end to system of injustice and inequality.
He had been imprisoned for nearly thirty years by the Apartheid regime and could easily have called for revenge against his white oppressors, but the fact that that he chose to forgive them is a huge testament to the great man’s strength of character and an example to us all. His oppressors had freed him but through his forgiveness he had, in a way, freed his oppressors. Though there was violence across South Africa in these years the fact that it did not spill over into a civil war is a minor miracle and a reminder that people can set aside their differences and forgive the transgressions of the past.
Truth and reconciliation
The negotiations lasted for years but finally on the 27 April 1994 South Africa held its first full, multi-racial elections. The ANC won a resounding victory and Nelson Mandela became the country’s first black president. With this the so-called ‘Rainbow Nation’ was born and a process known as Truth and Reconciliation began. This allowed for grievances to be aired, for old wounds to be healed and for people to move on from the mistakes and mistreatments of the past. Not to forget, but to forgive. The success of this process has made it a model for the rest of the world when similar situations of great change or upheaval have occurred.
Just as little as ten years earlier it would have been impossible to imagine any of this and the end of Apartheid is proof that no matter how bleak the situation may seem, with perseverance and through working together people can overcome any obstacles. We should not forget this idea in Scotland in 2014 as we fight for a better future for refugees and asylum seekers. Scotland has a proud tradition of supporting the downtrodden or oppressed and played its part in the international opposition to Apartheid. Glasgow was the first city in the world to grant him Freedom of the City and after his release Mandela visited Scotland several times and thanked the people of Scotland for their support. If we wish to live up to this legacy we must support those around the world who face similar discrimination or persecution.
Need to remember
The 20 years since these historic events have seen a great many ups and downs for South Africa and of course at the end of last year we lost Nelson Mandela. Mandela was a patron of Scottish Refugee Council and we were extremely proud to his support. While we were saddened by his passing, we will remember the legacy of his life and continue to work for justice and equality for all.
We must also never forget that while South Africa got its democracy all isn’t perfect in the country. And there are still many people across the world who are dined theirs and great many people who are oppressed not just for their skin colour but for their religion, nationality, sexuality, gender, ethnicity, culture, class or beliefs. Scotland and the Scottish people must support those who suffer such inhumanities just as we supported the end to Apartheid and work for another day like 27 April 1994 in other places right across the globe.
