Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was released from the Victor Verster Prison on 11 February 1990. This after he spent most of his life on Robben Island until he was moved to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town in March 1982.
He was then moved to Victor Verster Prison in Paarl in 1988 after contracting TB and following several treatments.
During The Rivonia Trial, the father of the nation chose not to testify and instead made a statement on 20 April 1964 which included the famous words:
“During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
Prominent ANC members remember the excitement and hope they felt when FW de Klerk announced the unbanning of political parties and Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, 20 years ago.
“People serving prison sentences merely because they were members of one of these organisations or because they committed another offense which was merely an offense because of prohibition of one of the organisations was enforced, will be identified and released,” de Klerk said.
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said there was a feeling of hope: “The air was pregnant with expectation of greater things.”
Nine days later, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison a free man. With him was his former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
“Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands,” said Mandela after he was released.
Winnie said de Klerk’s announcement was a culmination of what thousands of people were fighting for, for many years.
“It was a fulfillment of a dream. It was a culmination of our struggles and to us, as family, we were ecstatic. From that day we knew the history of this country would never be the same,” she said.
Mandela’s daughter, Zinzi said although her father’s release came at a difficult time, it brought joy.
“The announcement came by and the irony here was that we’d worked tirelessly all our lives for the freedom of our people and my father.”
De Klerk said he knew he had to work hard to keep his National Party members on board with his reforms.
He said he made sure most of the party’s heavy hitters were told before the announcement.
“The whole cabinet was fully informed. We made a promise to each other not even to tell our wives what would be announced and for once the secret was kept,” he remembered.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was protesting against apartheid outside Parliament when the historic announcement was made.
He paid tribute to de Klerk: “It was an incredible moment in the life of our world and FW deserves very considerable credit for his courage.”
Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel said his greatest memory of that day was Madiba’s speech.
“The speech he delivered on the Grande Parade was crafted by him. Madiba explained to us why it was important to say FW de Klerk is a man of integrity,” said Manuel.
(Compiled by Lenyaro Sello. Additional information: http://www.anc.org.za/, http://www.nelsonmandela.org)