South Africa's transition to democracy

South Africa's transition to democracy was a peaceful process that ended apartheid, a system of racial segregation and discrimination. In the early 1990s, intense internal resistance and international pressure led the government to negotiate with anti-apartheid groups like the African National Congress. Key steps included releasing political prisoners like Nelson Mandela, lifting bans on opposition parties, and holding multiracial elections in 1994. Nelson Mandela became the country’s first Black president, symbolizing a new era of equality and inclusion. This transition transformed South Africa into a democracy grounded in majority rule, human rights, and reconciliation.