Scenes of emotion, jubilation and racial harmony as Nelson Mandela becomes President of South Africa.
One hundred and fifty thousand South Africans sang and danced on the Botha Lawn beneath the Union Buildings in Pretoria. They had gathered to watch the first black president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela take office, and in doing so,
Bury the coffin of apartheid.
Reverend Terence McCaughey who has served as President of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement for the past twelve years attended the inauguration ceremony and says that this moment is,
Indescribable, we never thought we’d reach this day.
It is a day of celebration for South Africans and those speaking to RTÉ News are looking forward to what the future will bring.
It’s the beginning of freedom for this nation.
All of us, black and white...going to live together happily.
We can make it a better country.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 10 May 1994. The reporter is Charlie Bird.
