South Africa - Mandela 20 years on

South Africans celebrate the 20th anniversary of Mandela's release from jail

Article published on the 2010-02-11 Latest update 2010-02-11 16:00 TU

Nelson Mandela with his ex-wife Winnie, after his release, 11 February 1990.
(Photo: AFP)

Prominent South Africans gathered outside Cape Town's Victor Verster prison on Thursday to mark the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela's release from jail.

Mandela was an international symbol of the anti-apartheid movement and became the first black President of South Africa, holding office between 1994-1999. 

At a breakfast organised by the ruling African Natoinal Congress (ANC), former trade unionist and anti-apartheid activist Cyril Ramaphosa said Mandela was serene as he prepared to walk out free.

"Here is a man who's about to be released out of prison after 27 years. He was as cool as a cucumber and younger people would say he's a cool cat," said Ramaphosa, who was part of the team that welcomed Mandela on 11 February 1990 as he left the jail.

"We are celebrating a life that has been lived in service of our people," Ramaphosa told anti-apartheid veterans and government ministers who had gathered at the prison grounds. "He knew he needed to continue living for the people that were outside. Without the struggle of our people Madiba [Mandela's clan name] would have never been released." 

"The day Nelson Mandela walked free from Victor Verster Prison our collective spirit soared," said Nobel peace prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "It was a day that promised the beginning of the end of indignity."

But, while a lot had been achieved, there was still more to be done, Tutu added.

"If we really want to make a difference we must recapture the spirit of that day of Nelson Mandela's release ... We must not forget the past," he said.

President Jacob Zuma will address Parliament and Mandela, who is 91, is expected to make his only appearance of the day.

Twenty years after Mandela was freed from the prison, his ANC is in power and has improved housing and education, sanitation for blacks. 

But millions are still poor and unemployment is almost 25 per cent.  Some 5.7 million of South Africa's 48 million people have HIV, and crime averages 50 killings a day.