Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as the first Black president of South Africa after the country's first fully democratic election.
At a Glance
- Date
- 10 May 1994
- Location
- Pretoria, South Africa
- Key people
- Nelson Mandela
- Category
- Diaspora & Global
- Source
- Inauguration records, May 10, 1994 · Britannica
What It Meant Then
It completed the transition from apartheid to majority rule.
What It Means Now
Mandela's presidency became a global model of reconciliation.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Nelson Mandela Is Inaugurated President.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/nelson-mandela-is-inaugurated-president/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Nelson Mandela Is Inaugurated President. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/nelson-mandela-is-inaugurated-president/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Nelson Mandela Is Inaugurated President.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/nelson-mandela-is-inaugurated-president/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.