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Eight moments in Mandela’s life after being elected president
Nelson Mandela’s inauguration in 1994 marked a new day in South Africa, he continued to inspire the nation in the years that followed.
- On May 9, 1994 he was elected by parliament as the President of a democratic South Africa; the next day he was inaugurated as President of the Republic of South Africa.
- Mandela launched his autobiography – Long Walk to Freedom on December 14, 1994.
- At the dawn of the new South Africa, the country hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup from May 25 to June 24. One of the most memorable moments of his life showed him wearing the Springbok jersey with the same number as that of Captain Francois Pienaar.
- The same year as the rugby World Cup he established the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.
- A year after inspiring the Springboks to victory, he was there to witness Bafana Bafana conquer Africa in the African Cup of Nations.
- While the Ministry of Sport suggested they wanted to remove the Springbok emblem on the South African rugby team’s jersey – he protested the change, stating that the emblem was part of the team’s heritage.
- He divorced Winnie Mandela in 1996.
- Mandela celebrated his birthday in an unconventional way – he married Graca Machel on July 18, 1998.
