Pretoria - South Africa today marks the 22nd anniversary of the unbanning of liberation movements, including the African National Congress, South African Communist Party and other liberation organisations.
Then President FW de Klerk stunned the world on 2 February 1990 when he announced in Parliament that his government had decided to release Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners unconditionally and unban political parties.
Mandela, Walter Sisulu and six others had been convicted of treason and sabotage in June 1964 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Mandela spent the first 18 years of his sentence on Robben Island, doing hard labour. He later served time at Pollsmoor and Victor Verster prisons.
Nine days after De Klerk's announcement, Mandela walked out of prison a free man.
Following his release, Mandela negotiated the end to minority rule and became South Africa's first democratically elected president after the country held its first inclusive elections in 1994.
De Klerk and Mandela were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their efforts in ending apartheid.
