Political Career
1989
July 4
Meets then prime minister PW Botha at Tuynhuys in Cape Town.
August 21
The Organisation of African Unity signs the Harare Declaration which calls for the release of political prisoners and the unbanning of the ANC.
October 9
The government announces that it will release 8 prisoners.
December
Cabinet bosberaad is held at a game lodge to discuss the Harare Declaration and the release of Mandela.
1990
February 2
New president FW de Klerk unbans all political parties and and orders the release of all political prisoners not guilty of violent crimes.
February 11
Released from prison after 27 years.
March
Travels to Lusaka to meet ANC's national executive committee and Sweden to meet ANC President Oliver Tambo. Cuts trip short in light of unrest in SA.
April 2
Elected deputy president of the ANC.
May 2
ANC and government teams meet at Groote Schuur. Mandela heads the ANC delegation.
June
Begins a six-week tour of Europe, the United Kingdom, North America and Africa. The warm reception confirms his reputation as a respected leader.
July
Attends the Organisation of African Unity summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but has to leave for Kenya when he contracts pneumonia.
August
Talks between the ANC and the government resume. In the same month Mandela visits Norway, followed by Zambia, India and Australia.
August 6
The Pretoria Minute is signed which proclaims that the ANC suspends all armed activity.
1991
January 29
Meets Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, president of the Inkatha Freedom Party, In Durban for 8 hours and they agree to promote peace
April
Attends a meeting between the ANC and the PAC in Harare where they resolve to work together to oppose apartheid.
July
Elected ANC president and succeeds an ailing Oliver Tambo at the ANC' first national conference in 30 years inside the country.
September
Signs the National Peace Accord on behalf of the ANC to establish structures and procedures in an attempt to end widespread political violence.
October
A meeting of the Patriotic Front is held in Durban in an attempt to bring together all anti-apartheid groups in the country.
December
The first meeting of the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa), set up to negotiate procedures for constitutional change, is held.
1992
Receives a joint award with FW de Klerk in Spain - the Prince of the Asturias Prize for International Cooperation.
February
Continues his programme of extensive international travel, visiting Tunisia, Libya and Morocco, among others.
April 13
Announces his seperation from second wife Winnie Mandela as a result of differences.
May
The second plenary meeting of Codesa is held, but the working group dealing with constitutional arrangements deadlocks.
June
ANC calls for a mass action campaign to put pressure on the South African government.
July
Addresses the United Nations Security Council in a bid to end the violence.
September
Indicates that he is prepared to meet FW de Klerk with conditions and they sign a record of understanding which enables negotiations to be resumed.
1993
April
Following the assassination of SACP leader Chris Hani, Mandela calls for peace, but a militant crowd in Soweto boos him.
May
Causes a political row when he suggests that South Africa's voting age should be lowered to enable 14-year-old children to vote.
September
While on a visit to the United States, urges world business leaders to lift economic sanctions and to invest in South Africa.
December
Jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize together with former president FW de Klerk in Norway.
1994
April 27
Votes for the first time in his life and runs for president in the country's first free elections where black South Africans are allowed to vote.
May 9
Elected unopposed as president of South Africa in the first session of the National Assembly.
May 10
Inaugurated as president. Appoints FW de Klerk as deputy president and forms a racially mixed government.
1995
May 8
Establishes the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.
June 24
South Africa hosts and wins the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Mandela wears a Springbok shirt when he presents the trophy to captain Francois Pienaar.
December
Establishes the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to lift the lid on atrocities committed under the white minority regime.
1996
February
Signs into law one of the world’s most pro-abortion laws, the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act.
March 19
Divorces second wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, after a long estrangement.
September
The Robben Island Museum is established as a national monument and museum.
1997
June 9
Mandela's great-granddaughter Zenani is born (now deceased).
November
Meets the Spice Girls while they are in South Africa to perform at a charity concert.
1998
July 18
Celebrates his 80th birthday by marrying his Mozambican sweetheart Graca Machel at a private ceremony at his home in Houghton.
1999
February
Launches the world's biggest rural solar electricity project at a village in the Eastern Cape.