35 Pictures of Nelson Mandela's Struggle to End Apartheid in South Africa

Some of the 20,000 jubilant ANC supporters who gathered on Sunday, Feb. 11, 1990, in Soweto, South Africa at Jabulani Stadium to celebrate the release of ANC leader Nelson Mandela. AP Photo/Raymond Preston

Released ANC leader Nelson Mandela is wired for a television interview with CBS anchorman Dan Rather, right, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 1990, in the garden of his home in Soweto. Mandela spent most of his fourth day of freedom giving an interview to the press. In the CBS interview, Mandela spoke mainly about his experiences in jail. AP Photo/John Parkin

Mandela on a cell phone with then President FW de Klerk discussing the violence in the country just before the elections, Johannesburg, 1994. Photo © George Hallett

“First Encounter, Johannesburg, 1994,” three women—two of them wearing the iconic uniforms of “tea ladies,” and thusly, figures as iconic as Mandela in apartheid history—run open armed towards a receptive, welcoming Mandela. Africa Country

African National Congress President Nelson Mandela salutes the crowd in Galeshewe Stadium near Kimberley, South Africa, before a “People’s Forum” Friday, Feb. 25, 1994. Mandela is on a three-day campaign swing for the April all-race general election through the Northern Cape Province. Mandela called on supporters on Friday to stop chasing President F.W. de Klerk from black areas, saying the ANC could win April’s election ‘hands down’ without help from hecklers. AP Photo/David Brauchli

April 27, 1994, aerial file photo shows long lines of people queuing outside the polling station in the black township of Soweto, in the southwest suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa. The majority of South Africa’s 22 million voters were voting in the nation’s first all-race elections. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell, File)

SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 26: Nelson Mandela votes for the first time in his life, Ohlange school, Inanada, March 26, 1994. Photo by South Photography/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Archbishop Desmond Tutu joins hands with Nelson Mandela in triumph after the latter was proclaimed president of South Africa in 1994. Irish Times

South Africa. Gauteng. Johannesburg. Mandela joins the ANC choir in a celebratory dance in the Carlton Hotel after their election victory. 1994. Magnum Photos

South African President Nelson Mandela at a gala night for South African teachers in Pretoria. Photograph by Henner Frankenfeld

Nelson Mandela going over the text of his inauguration speech. Photo © George Hallett

Outside Parliament on the 9th of May 1994. The official opening of the first Democratic Parliament with three Nobel Peace Prize Laureates- Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk. Vice President Thabo Mbeki left of Mandela. George Hall

Former presidents of South Africa Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki leave the South African Parliament building after the opening of its first session under the country’s new constitution. In his speech, Mr. Mandela promised further progress on privatization and the abolition of exchange controls. Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters

Then South African President Nelson Mandela shakes hands with his deputy and last state president of apartheid-era South Africa F.W. de Klerk after a meeting between the two on January 20th, 1995. Mr. Mandela and Mr. de Klerk said they had cleared up misunderstandings sparked by apartheid-era indemnities that had threatened the government of national unity. Photograph: Shawn Baldwin/Reuters

South African rugby team captain, Francois Pienaar (right), is congratulated by South African president Nelson Mandela after South Africa won the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand 24th June 1995 in Johannesburg. Photograph- Getty Images

Then South African president Nelson Mandela and the world’s most famous footballer Pele smile for photographers in 1995. Photograph- Juda Ngwenya: Reuters

Nelson Mandela acknowledges the cheers of welcome from the crowd, on arrival at Trinity College, where he was conferred with an honorary degree in April 2000. Photograph- Eric Luke: The Irish Times

Candles are lit under a portrait of the former South African leader before his funeral. Photograph: Odd Andersen/EPA

35 Pictures of Nelson Mandela’s Struggle to End Apartheid in South Africa