1994 South African general election — first South African election held under universal suffrage
The 1994 South African election was the first held under universal suffrage, ending apartheid and resulting in Nelson Mandela becoming the country's first black president.
Key Facts
- Voting period
- 26–29 April 1994 (four days)
- Total valid votes counted
- 19,726,579 votes
- Invalid votes rejected
- 193,081 votes
- ANC share of vote
- 62%
- National Party share of vote
- Just over 20%
- Elected President
- Nelson Mandela (first black chief executive)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Decades of apartheid, which restricted voting rights by race under a herrenvolk democracy since the 1950s, led to a four-year negotiated transition process that dismantled racial exclusion and established the framework for a universal suffrage election administered by the Independent Electoral Commission.
Between 26 and 29 April 1994, millions of South Africans of all races queued over four days to cast ballots in the country's first universal suffrage election. The ANC won 62 percent of the vote, just short of the supermajority needed to unilaterally amend the Interim Constitution, while the National Party took just over 20 percent and the IFP also cleared the threshold for National Assembly seats.
The ANC formed a Government of National Unity with the NP and IFP as required by the Interim Constitution. The new National Assembly elected Nelson Mandela as President, making him South Africa's first black head of state. The date 27 April was subsequently designated Freedom Day, a national public holiday.
Political Outcome
ANC won 62% of the vote, forming a Government of National Unity with the NP and IFP; Nelson Mandela elected as South Africa's first black President.
Apartheid-era National Party government with racially restricted franchise
ANC-led Government of National Unity under President Nelson Mandela with universal suffrage