A segregated general election meets mass protest

More than 300,000 Black mineworkers struck over wages, safety and working conditions in the largest industrial action in South African history to that point.

After twenty-three years in prison, the Rivonia veteran became the first of the senior ANC political prisoners to be released.

Seventeen democratic organizations were effectively prohibited from political activity, forcing opposition networks to reorganize through the Mass Democratic Movement.

The Wembley concert reached a worldwide television audience and transformed the demand to free Mandela into a global popular campaign.

The transfer placed Mandela in a house on prison grounds and facilitated increasingly direct talks with government representatives.

About 30,000 people marched with civic, religious and political leaders after police violence, demonstrating the weakening of restrictions on public protest.

De Klerk took office amid deep internal resistance, economic pressure and international isolation that made political change unavoidable.

Walter Sisulu and six other veteran leaders left prison, signalling that the government was preparing for negotiations with the liberation movement.

Tens of thousands gathered at Soccer City to hear Walter Sisulu and other veterans publicly reaffirm the liberation movement's programme.

The decision began dismantling a central structure through which the security state had coordinated military influence over civilian government.