1990: South African President promises Mandela鈥檚 freedom
South African president FW de Klerk lifted the 30-year ban on leading anti-apartheid group, the African National Congress, on 2 February 1990.
In a televised speech at the opening of parliament in Cape town, he also made his first public commitment to releasing jailed ANC leader, Nelson Mandela.
Many observers were surprised by the scope of the reforms, which included a return to press freedom and suspension of the death penalty, signalling a partial end to the 25-year-old state of emergency.
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