ON FEBRUARY 11 – exactly 20 years ago tomorrow – millions of people across the world celebrated the release from prison of struggle icon Nelson Mandela. After 27 years behind bars, Mandela finally walked out of the Victor Verster Prison in 1990.
Outside the prison, marshals had their hands full as the restless crowds climbed onto anything they could to get a better view of their hero. In places like Mdantsane in East London, thousands took to the streets in celebration. At least three people were reportedly killed when shots were fired.
The Dispatch, on February 13, 1990, also reported how Mandela’s release had unsettled South Africa’s financial markets. The rand plunged as capital market rates shot up and the JSE suffered a sharp setback. Yesterday, prominent political figures reflected back on the excitement of the day. ANC Chief Whip in the province, Humphrey Maxhengwana, said he was in exile in Zambia at the time. A group of them gathered in an office in Lusaka and watched the broadcast of Mandela’s release.
“We were not shocked as such. We had been expecting it, but not as soon as it happened.”
He said the excitement and the relief was tangible, and they started counting the days before they would be able to return home to South Africa. “Then he came to Zambia to see us, just months after his release, and although the South African group was fairly small, the group to meet him at the airport was huge.”
Maxhengwana said “ it was such a long time ago, but it seems like yesterday”.
Congress of the People head of policy Smuts Ngonyama said he was chairperson of the Border region of the ANC at the time.
“It was a very big moment, especially for this region, which was a very revolutionary region fighting for an end of the homelands. We held a big rally to welcome him at Bhisho Stadium, which was attended by everyone from the greater Border region,” he said.
Democratic Alliance Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip remembered the release as “a moment of great excitement” and as a turning point in the history of South Africa. Having been whisked to a private meeting with Mandela just before a homecoming rally in Port Elizabeth, Trollip said: “I will never forget the moment. He came with his hands stretched out towards me and said ‘I am Nelson Mandela’.”
The United Democratic Movement’s member of the provincial Legislature, Max Mhlati said he was glued to his TV set in the Transkei on that momentous day.
“In those days we lived under serious oppression and were under the impression that we would never live to see a better day,” he said.
But with Mandela’s release came the hope they had longed for. -
