South African general election, 1994

E35574

The South African general election of 1994 was the country’s first fully democratic, multiracial national vote, marking the end of apartheid and leading to Nelson Mandela’s election as president.


Statements (50)
Predicate Object
instanceOf general election
historical event
national election
ANCVoteShare approximately 62.6 percent
associatedWith end of apartheid in South Africa
post-apartheid era
transition to democracy in South Africa
chamberElected National Assembly of South Africa
Senate of South Africa
country South Africa
electoralSystem party-list proportional representation
endDate 1994-04-29
follows South African general election, 1989
IFPVoteShare approximately 10.5 percent
isFirst first fully democratic national election in South Africa
first multiracial national election in South Africa
keyFigure F. W. de Klerk
Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Nelson Mandela
ledTo inauguration of Nelson Mandela on 1994-05-10
legalFramework Interim Constitution of South Africa, 1993
location Republic of South Africa
mainVotingDays 1994-04-27
mainWinner African National Congress
mandateForANC 252 seats in National Assembly
mandateForIFP 43 seats in National Assembly
mandateForNP 82 seats in National Assembly
monitoredBy United Nations observers
international observers
NPVoteShare approximately 20.4 percent
oversightBody Independent Electoral Commission (South Africa)
peaceAgreement participation of Inkatha Freedom Party after late agreement
precedes South African general election, 1999
previousFranchiseCharacteristic racially restricted under apartheid
resultAnnouncementDate 1994-05-06
resultedIn African National Congress-led government
election of Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa
formation of Government of National Unity
secondPlaceParty National Party (South Africa)
significance marked the end of apartheid rule
startDate 1994-04-26
thirdPlaceParty Inkatha Freedom Party
totalSeatsInNationalAssembly 400
turnout over 19 million voters
turnoutRate approximately 86 percent
violenceContext occurred amid some political violence, especially in KwaZulu-Natal
votingCharacteristic long queues at polling stations
votingEligiblePopulation all adult South African citizens regardless of race
votingMethod paper ballots
year 1994

Referenced by (4)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Afrikaner nationalism ("1994 South African general election")
declinedAfter
South African general election, 1989
followedBy
National Party ("1994 South African general election")
lostPowerIn
National Party (South Africa)
participatedIn

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