May 10th 1994; Nelson Mandela becomes South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela has become South Africa's first black president after more than three centuries of white rule. Mr. Mandela's African National Congress (ANC) party won 252 of the 400 seats in the first democratic elections of South Africa's history.

The inauguration ceremony took place in the Union Buildings amphitheatre in Pretoria today, attended by politicians and dignitaries from more than 140 countries around the world.