ZA94 South Africa’s 1994 election
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A short chronology

From the unbannings to the oath

The dates that put the 1994 election in order. The longer account is on the road to the election.

  1. 1948

    The National Party wins the whites-only election and begins the legislative system of apartheid.

  2. 2 February 1990

    F. W. de Klerk unbans the ANC, the PAC and the South African Communist Party, and announces that Nelson Mandela will be released.

  3. 11 February 1990

    Mandela leaves prison after 27 years.

  4. 20–21 December 1991

    CODESA opens at the World Trade Centre in Kempton Park. Formal constitutional talks begin.

  5. May 1992

    CODESA’s second plenary breaks up without adopting its reports.

  6. June 1992

    After the killings at Boipatong, the ANC suspends talks.

  7. 26 September 1992

    The government and the ANC sign the Record of Understanding. Negotiations have a path back.

  8. 10 April 1993

    Chris Hani is assassinated. The country holds, and the multi-party talks continue.

  9. April–November 1993

    The Multi-Party Negotiating Process drafts an interim constitution. Agreement is reached on 18 November.

  10. 25 January 1994

    The interim constitution, Act 200 of 1993, is assented to. It will come into force on election week.

  11. March 1994

    An attempt by the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging to shore up Bophuthatswana fails. The Freedom Front takes the electoral route.

  12. 19 April 1994

    The Inkatha Freedom Party agrees to contest. Stickers are added to ballots that have already been printed.

  13. 26 April 1994

    Voting opens. The first day is aimed especially at voters who cannot stand in a long queue.

  14. 27 April 1994

    The interim constitution comes into force. The day is now Freedom Day, a public holiday. Voting continues.

  15. 28 April 1994

    The scheduled last day. Judge Johann Kriegler recommends an extra day where ballots arrived too late. Leaders agree.

  16. 29 April 1994

    Voting continues in KwaZulu, the Transkei, the Ciskei, Lebowa, Gazankulu and Venda.

  17. 6 May 1994

    The Independent Electoral Commission publishes the final national result. The ANC has 252 of 400 seats.

  18. 9 May 1994

    The National Assembly elects Nelson Mandela president.

  19. 10 May 1994

    Mandela is sworn in at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Thabo Mbeki and F. W. de Klerk are deputy presidents.

  20. 1996–1997

    The elected parliament, sitting as a constitutional assembly, adopts a final constitution in 1996. It comes into force on 4 February 1997 and replaces the interim text.