The IFP agrees to participate in the election

The RDP connected political democracy with housing, services, jobs, land reform and social transformation.

A civil-service strike and popular uprising defeated Lucas Mangope's attempt to keep the territory out of the election; armed AWB intervention ended disastrously.

The manifesto presented the RDP and promised democratic government, equality and reconstruction after apartheid.

ANC security guards fired during an IFP march near ANC headquarters, killing marchers amid intense pre-election violence and disputed accounts.

De Klerk imposed emergency rule to curb escalating violence and protect the forthcoming election.

A bomb near ANC offices killed at least nine people during a far-right campaign intended to disrupt the election.

Elderly, disabled, hospitalized and election personnel voted before the main polling day, beginning the formal transfer to majority rule.

For the first time, adult citizens of every racial classification voted together for a national government after centuries of colonialism and apartheid.

With about 62.6 percent of the vote, the ANC became the leading party in a Government of National Unity.

The newly elected democratic parliament chose Mandela as president, with Thabo Mbeki and F. W. de Klerk as deputy presidents.