This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8509785.stm
The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mandela's 1990 release remembered | Mandela's 1990 release remembered |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Celebrations are to be held to mark 20 years since the release from prison of Nelson Mandela, a key step towards ending apartheid in South Africa. | Celebrations are to be held to mark 20 years since the release from prison of Nelson Mandela, a key step towards ending apartheid in South Africa. |
| In Cape Town, his former wife Winnie will lead a march from the prison where he spent the final months of his 27-year imprisonment. | In Cape Town, his former wife Winnie will lead a march from the prison where he spent the final months of his 27-year imprisonment. |
| Mr Mandela, now a frail 91-year-old, is expected to make a rare public appearance this evening. | Mr Mandela, now a frail 91-year-old, is expected to make a rare public appearance this evening. |
| He became the country's first black president in 1994. | He became the country's first black president in 1994. |
| He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 for plotting to overthrow the government by violence. | He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 for plotting to overthrow the government by violence. |
| He spent most of his sentence in Robben Island prison, off the coast of Cape Town, and later in Pollsmoor Prison on the mainland. | He spent most of his sentence in Robben Island prison, off the coast of Cape Town, and later in Pollsmoor Prison on the mainland. |
| If you cast your mind to 20 years ago, could we ever have imagined that we would be where we are today Cyril Ramaphosa href="/2/hi/in_depth/8508592.stm">Audio slideshow: Long walk to freedom class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8508964.stm">Mandela's moment Mandela's life and times | |
| Before his release, he lived in a cottage in the grounds of Victor Verster prison in a rural area some 50km (31 miles) from Cape Town, with his own cook. | Before his release, he lived in a cottage in the grounds of Victor Verster prison in a rural area some 50km (31 miles) from Cape Town, with his own cook. |
| Thursday's re-enactment walk will be from Victor Verster prison, now known as Drakenstein Prison, where a statue of Mr Mandela stands with its hand upraised. | Thursday's re-enactment walk will be from Victor Verster prison, now known as Drakenstein Prison, where a statue of Mr Mandela stands with its hand upraised. |
| Mr Mandela will not be taking part, the ANC says, but he is likely to attend a state of the nation address by South African President Jacob Zuma later. | Mr Mandela will not be taking part, the ANC says, but he is likely to attend a state of the nation address by South African President Jacob Zuma later. |
| International pressure | International pressure |
| During his years in prison he became an international symbol of resistance to apartheid. | During his years in prison he became an international symbol of resistance to apartheid. |
| In 1990, the South African government responded to internal and international pressure and released Mr Mandela, at the same time lifting the ban against the ANC. | In 1990, the South African government responded to internal and international pressure and released Mr Mandela, at the same time lifting the ban against the ANC. |
| Cyril Ramaphosa, head of the committee that had to protect Mr Mandela in the days after his release, said the country had undergone enormous changes in the last two decades. | Cyril Ramaphosa, head of the committee that had to protect Mr Mandela in the days after his release, said the country had undergone enormous changes in the last two decades. |
| "If you cast your mind to 20 years ago, could we ever have imagined that we would be where we are today. | "If you cast your mind to 20 years ago, could we ever have imagined that we would be where we are today. |
| "Not many of us could have imagined this. | "Not many of us could have imagined this. |
| "We possibly do remember where each one of us was when Nelson Mandela walked free, but I don't think many of us could ever have imagined that we would be living in a South Africa that resembles what it is today." | "We possibly do remember where each one of us was when Nelson Mandela walked free, but I don't think many of us could ever have imagined that we would be living in a South Africa that resembles what it is today." |
| 'Good solution' | 'Good solution' |
| Christo Brand, the former prison warden assigned to guard Mr Mandela, said of events 20 years ago: "I hoped there would be no bloodshed. There was no bloodshed. Everything worked out perfectly. | Christo Brand, the former prison warden assigned to guard Mr Mandela, said of events 20 years ago: "I hoped there would be no bloodshed. There was no bloodshed. Everything worked out perfectly. |
| "And I know the way Mandela does negotiations, he was really thinking of the other side, too. | "And I know the way Mandela does negotiations, he was really thinking of the other side, too. |
| "He not only thinks of the black people of the country, but thinking also of the whites and studying and feeling the fears of the whites in this country. | "He not only thinks of the black people of the country, but thinking also of the whites and studying and feeling the fears of the whites in this country. |
| "And I think through that fear, he came up and thought of a good solution for South Africa." | "And I think through that fear, he came up and thought of a good solution for South Africa." |
| In 1991 Mr Mandela became the ANC's leader, and was president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. | In 1991 Mr Mandela became the ANC's leader, and was president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. |