Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first democratically-elected president at the ripe age of 75 in May 1994. Mandela led South Africa's transition from apartheid to democracy in an unprecedented one-term in office until early 1999. He won international respect for advocating and practicing reconciliation. But he was criticized for not doing enough about empowerment, redress and HIV/Aids. Sya van der Walt highlights some of the hallmarks of Mandela's presidency.

Credits: Sya van der Walt, Angie Kapelianis, Danny Booysen and the SABC Media Libraries.

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Former president Nelson Mandela briefly served as a Member of Parliament in 1994, following South Africa’s historic multi-racial elections. In fact, Mandela’s membership of the national legislature lasted only a few minutes because he was unanimously elected as South Africa’s new President. Nevertheless, he interacted regularly with the legislature, including the smaller opposition parties. Mercedes Besent reports.

Credits: Mercedes Besent , Angie Kapelianis and Danny Booysen.

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Former president Nelson Mandela’s tireless efforts from 1994 boosted South Africa’s economy. Mandela and his ANC-led Government of National Unity inherited a bankrupt country following years of international sanctions against the previous apartheid government. During Mandela’s five-year term, the country’s Gross Domestic Product, measuring annual production, increased, on average, by almost three per cent. Moses Mlangeni and Angie Kapelianis compiled this special report on Mandela's contribution to Africa's largest economy.

Credits: Moses Mlangeni, Angie Kapelianis and Danny Booysen.

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Ché Guevara, Amilcar Cabral, Agostinho Neto and Samora Machel. These are just some of the well-known freedom fighters with whom Nelson Mandela secretly trained in 1962 in northern Africa. There, they learnt the art of guerrilla warfare to liberate their countries. When Mandela was released from jail about 30 years later, he first revisited the continent to thank his African allies for their support and solidarity. Miranda Strydom and Angie Kapelianis compiled this feature on Mandela and Africa.

Credits: Miranda Strydom, Angie Kapelianis, Habs Habedi, Danny Booysen and the SABC Media Library

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Nelson Mandela was Accused Number One in the Rivonia Sabotage Trial at the Palace of Justice in Pretoria between October 1963 and June 1964. The Rivonia Trial is regarded as one of the most politically significant court cases in South Africa's history. During that eight-month trial, 45-year-old Mandela established himself as one of the country's foremost political figures. From the dock, he declared that he was prepared to die for a democratic and free South Africa. Sandra de Lange and Angie Kapelianis reflect on the Rivonia trial, its impact and significance.

Credits: Sandra de Lange, Angie Kapelianis, Elsabe Smit, Danny Booysen and the SABC Media Libraries.

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Former president Nelson Mandela had more in common with the old Broederbond, K.V.W, Sanlam and Stellenbosch University than met the eye. They were all born in South Africa in 1918. Mandela took his first breath at the rural village of Mvezo in the Eastern Cape on the 18th of July 1918. Angie Kapelianis looks at the village and year of Mandela's birth.

Credits: Angie Kapelianis and Danny Booysen 

© SABC 2020. No unauthorised use, copying, adaptation or reproduction permitted without prior written consent of the SABC.