February 2, 1990

1990 State of the Nation address (South Africa)

De Klerk unbans liberation movements and announces Mandela's release

De Klerk legalized the ANC and told Parliament the government would free Nelson Mandela unconditionally — but that he could not yet name the day.

The opening of Parliament, Cape Town

On 2 February 1990, State President F. W. de Klerk announced that the prohibitions on the African National Congress, Pan Africanist Congress, South African Communist Party and their subsidiary organizations were being rescinded.

He announced the release of people imprisoned merely for membership in those organizations or for offenses created solely by their prohibition — expressly excluding prisoners convicted of offenses such as murder, terrorism or arson.

33 organizations, 374 people

De Klerk removed emergency restrictions from 33 organizations and release conditions from 374 people, abolished the media and education emergency regulations, and gave emergency detainees rights to legal representation and a doctor of their choosing. The maximum emergency-detention period was set at six months.

The state of emergency itself stayed in force, and de Klerk paired the reforms with a promise of stronger law enforcement. Implementation was declared immediate, with notices to appear in the Government Gazette the next day.

Nine days short of the gate

The government had firmly decided to release Nelson Mandela unconditionally, de Klerk said, but the date was not yet determined: logistical and safety arrangements would take a little longer.

Mandela, imprisoned since 1962 and serving a life sentence from the Rivonia Trial, remained at Victor Verster Prison until 11 February — 27 years in custody.

Sources

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