What Happened In 1994 In South Africa
The Birth Of A New Age
Nelson Mandela took the oath of office as President of South Africa on April 27, 1994, following the election. It was decided to form the Government of National Unity, whose cabinet consisted of twelve representatives of the African National Congress, six from the National Party, and three from the Inkatha Freedom Party. F.W. de Klerk and Thabo Mbeki were appointed as vice presidents. The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), which the government acknowledged would require a more robust macroeconomic environment, was launched by the government to address the socio-economic effects of apartheid, including reducing poverty and addressing the severe shortages of social services throughout the nation.
The Constitution Post-Apartheid
The temporary constitution adopted during talks to end apartheid was replaced by a new one in 1995. The government also set up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to reveal the atrocities committed during apartheid. The commission heard several accounts of heinous injustice and violence from all sides of the conflict and provided some catharsis to individuals and communities devastated by their previous encounters.
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How The TRC Functioned
The TRC functioned by letting perpetrators admit their guilt and victims share their stories, offering amnesty to anyone who made a complete confession. If the authorities could establish culpability, anyone who opted not to come before the committee would be prosecuted in court. While some police officers, soldiers, and regular people came forward to admit their guilt, few of the people who had given the orders did. For instance, Thabo Mbeki, then-Deputy President, and former State President P. W. Botha both declined to attend before the commission.
Approval Of Gear
In June 1996, a Growth, Employment, and Redistribution (GEAR) strategy were approved. The GEAR plan, which sought to cut state spending, rationalize the public sector, and bring the budget deficit down to 3% by 1999, was influenced by the economic theories that came to be known as the Washington Consensus. Trevor Manuel had just filled the position of finance minister. International investors may have exerted some pressure on the GEAR strategy’s adoption. 1995 Rugby World Cup was held and won by South Africa. As a sign of racial harmony, Nelson Mandela donned a Springbok rugby shirt to give the William Webb Ellis Cup to South African captain Francois Pienaar.
What Happened In 1994 In South Africa
The National Party government in South Africa, which had ruled the country since 1948 and had supported the apartheid system for the majority of its history, was replaced in 1994 by the African National Congress (ANC), which had been banned in South Africa since the 1950s because of its opposition to apartheid. The ANC came out on top in the first multiracial election held under universal suffrage. Only white people could vote in the past. There were also violent occurrences in the Bantustans during the elections because certain Bantustan authorities opposed voting while other residents wanted to participate and become a part of South Africa. Additionally, the African National Congress and the National Party were the targets of bombings, and leaders of the opposition ANC and Inkatha Freedom Party were killed for political reasons (IFP).
