On 26 April 1994, anti-apartheid activist and African National Congress (ANC) leader Nelson Mandela voted for the first time in South Africa's general elections, the first held in the country in which citizens of all races were allowed to take part. After posting his ballot, the future President of South Africa addressed supporters and the press, speaking of the historical significance of the "unforgettable occasion". He spoke of South Africa having entered a "new era", telling his audience: "I cherish the idea of a new South Africa, where all South Africans are equal, where all South Africans work together in order to bring about security, peace, and democracy." Two weeks later, the newly elected National Assembly would as its first act elect Nelson Mandela as the first president of South Africa, and the country's first black chief executive.

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