CHRONOLOGY: Mandela's march from prison gates to presidency

Feb 11, 2010, 9:12 GMT

Johannesburg - Nelson Mandela's release from prison on February 11, 1990 set in motion a series of events that culminated in the country's peaceful transition to democracy four years later.

His release came just days after then-president FW de Klerk announced the unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC) and other apartheid-era liberation organizations.

The following is a list of the key events in that four-year period: <#>

1990:

February 2 - De Klerk announces unbanning of ANC, South African Communist Party (SACP) and other anti-apartheid organizations.

February 11 - Mandela walks free from prison after 27 years. The anti-apartheid struggle hero is aged 71.

May 2 - The apartheid government and Mandela's ANC begin negotiations on the transition to democracy.

June 8 - De Klerk lifts a four-year state of emergency.

August 6 - The ANC formally suspends its armed struggle. The government agrees to release political prisoners

1991:

February - Mandela's wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, goes on trial in the case of murdered child activist Stompie Seipei. She is convicted of kidnapping and receives a six-year prison sentence, which is reduced on appeal to a fine.

December 20 - Beginning of multi-party talks in Johannesburg under the slogan Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA).

1992:

March 17 - De Klerk gets backing for his reforms and negotiations with the ANC in an all-white referendum

- 69 per cent approve.

April 13 - Mandela announces his separation from his wife, citing differences of opinion.

May - Second round of CODESA negotiations break down. Tens of thousands of ANC supporters march on seat of government to protest state-sponsored violence against blacks.

1993:

March 24 - De Klerk admits the apartheid regime built six nuclear bombs, which were dismantled in 1990.

April - CODESA talks resume.

April 10 - Assassination of Chris Hani, the popular SACP leader and chief of staff of the ANC's armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe by white extremists threatens to derail peace process.

June-November - Multi-party forum sets down April 27, 1994 as date for democratic elections and elects multiparty transitional government.

October 8 - United Nations lifts a 31-year ban on economic and other ties with South Africa and its nationals following an appeal by Mandela.

October 15 - Mandela and de Klerk are jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 'for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa.'

1994:

April 27 - South Africans turn out in massive numbers to vote in the country's first democratic elections. The ANC wins 62.6 per cent of the vote with the promise of 'A better life for all.'

May 10 - Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is sworn in as the country's first black president. <#>