secretary-general

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s recent visit to the country’s south region is being seen as a possible sign that the upcoming referendum will be peaceful, and its outcomes will be accepted by the different parties.

Katutura township, in the heart of Namibia's capital of Windhoek, came alive on Saturday as locals gathered to witness the opening of the Katutura Football for Hope Centre - the third of 20 such centres being built across Africa as a legacy of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

A trust fund is to be formed to oversee the money that Fifa gives to South Africa following its successful hosting of the first Fifa World Cup on African soil, to ensure that the money goes towards football development in the country.

The successful hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup has done wonders for South Africans' national confidence and the country's image abroad, according to pre- and post-tournament surveys commissioned by Fifa.

Namibia has sold 7.2-tons of stockpiled ivory on auction, raising R12.2-million ($1.2-million) for conservation - and also the ire of conservationists.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu turns 77 on 7 October 2008. The charismatic cleric received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 and has won the admiration of the world as an outspoken moral voice and human rights campaigner.

A press conference held in Beijing on 21 August 2008 shed light on South Africa’s ongoing preparations for the 2010 Fifa World Cup – and the message to the world is that SA is on track to deliver the goods.

• Previous page: Three decades of crisis

On 2 February 1990, FW de Klerk lifted restrictions on 33 opposition groups, including the ANC, the PAC and the Communist Party, at the opening of Parliament. On February 11 Mandela, who had maintained a tough negotiating stance on the issue, was released after 27 years in prison.

The piecemeal dismantling of restrictive legislation began. Political groups started negotiating the ending of white minority rule, and in early 1992 the white electorate endorsed De Klerk's stance on these negotiations in a referendum.

Violence continued unabated, a massacre at the township of Boipatong causing the ANC to withdraw temporarily from constitutional talks.

In 1993, however, an agreement was reached on a Government of National Unity which would allow a partnership of the old regime and the new.

The optimism generated by the negotiations was shattered by the assassination of Chris Hani, the secretary-general of the Communist Party: only a prompt appeal to the nation by Mandela averted a massive reaction. At the end of the year an interim constitution was agreed to by 21 political parties.

• See: Mandela: leader among leaders

First democratic elections

South Africa's first democratic election was held on 26, 27 and 28 April 1994, with victory going to the ANC in an alliance with the Communist Party and Cosatu. Nelson Mandela was sworn in as President on May 10 with FW de Klerk and the ANC's Thabo Mbeki as Deputy Presidents.

• See: 72 days that shaped South Africa

Mandela's presidency was characterised by the successful negotiation of a new constitution; a start on the massive task of restructuring the civil service and attempts to redirect national priorities to address the results of apartheid; and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, set up primarily to investigate the wrongs of the past.

SAinfo reporter

Updated: July 2015