The Hindu : International : South Africa celebrates decade of democracy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 28, 2004

International

International

South Africa celebrates decade of democracy

PRETORIA (SOUTH AFRICA), APRIL 27. The South African President, Thabo Mbeki, was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday as South Africa celebrated 10 years of democracy and an end to the brutal apartheid system that denied the most basic of rights to the vast majority of its people.

Presidents, monarchs, diplomats and hundreds of invited guests watched as Mr. Mbeki took the oath at the Union Buildings, the seat of Government where white minority leaders devised and administered decades of racial repression. Tens of thousands of cheering, flag-waving people watched the ceremony on giant television screens from the surrounding lawns.

``Today, we begin our second decade of democracy,'' Mr. Mbeki said. ``We are convinced that what has been achieved during the first demonstrates that as Africans we can and will solve our problems.''

``Having served as the prime example of human despair, Africa is certain to emerge as a place of human hope,'' he said.

Mr. Mbeki's second inauguration came on Freedom Day, the holiday that commemorates the day in 1994 when South Africans of all races voted together for the first time, bringing a miraculously peaceful close to almost half a century of oppressive white minority rule.

Nelson Mandela, who emerged from 27 years in prison to lead negotiations that ended apartheid, was elected the country's first black President.

Ten years later, Mr. Mandela watched as his designated successor began a second term after the governing African National Congress' most decisive election victory yet on April 14. — AP

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