Nelson Mandela talks about the importance of press freedom in 1994. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.由702

It was a time of celebration once the formalities of the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela had taken place. Guests from around the world, including heads of state, royalty, Hollywood stars, celebrities and senior government officials, were treated to the best hospitality South Africa had on offer. One the major functions was a lunch for 5-th…

After South Africa's first national democratic elections in April 1994, on Tuesday the 10th of May Nelson Mandela was sworn in as South Africa's first democratic President at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. He replaced the outgoing National Party leader, FW de Klerk. Mandela spent the first 18 of his 27 years in jail in prison on Robben Island. Te…

South Africa’s first democratic election took place in a festive atmosphere, despite fears of political violence. It was the first election in which all South Africans, registered on a common voters’ roll, could vote. One of the major challenges for the election process was the late entry of the Inkatha Freedom Party. Led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, t…

Nineteen political parties contested the county’s first democratic elections. The sheer size of the logistical task the IEC faced, meant many of the biggest parties identified various challenges they were facing. Some issues included the late opening of voting stations, missing ballot papers and long queues, with some even questioning the fairness …

In the days leading up to, and during, the 24th of April 1994, listeners were calling in to 702 to share their experiences of the voting process, to ask for information and advice, and to complain about or praise the organisation of the poll. Some were afraid as right wingers planted bombs around the country, while others refused to be intimidated.…

Twenty-five years ago, the new South Africa came into being. Democracy had arrived for tens of millions of citizens who had never been allowed to make their mark on a ballot paper. In the run-up to the elections taking place at the end of April 1994, excitement was in the air. Political parties were jostling for support, the Independent Electoral C…

Over the years, 702 has become part of the fabric of life for many Gauteng residents. The radio station has not only been a source of valuable news and information, but it has also fought hard for the underdog and those less privileged. When the first democratic elections in 1994 came along, it didn’t come as a surprise that 702 was to go-to media …

John Robbie has always engaged in a meaningful manner with his listeners, some of whom have had a love and hate relationship with him over the years. But one thing is for sure, even though John had some firm and controversial views, he was always fair, and willing to listen to everyone. And on 24 April 1994, John did just that – he engaged with cal…

The Independent Electoral Commission, led by Judge Johann Kriegler, was tasked with organising the country’s first democratic election, 25 years ago. Following a series of tense negotiations, the election which would change the history of South Africa took place. For the first time, all races in the country were going to the polls to vote for a gov…

British-born Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, an Anglican priest, first came to Johannesburg in 1943. He ministered in Sophiatown and Soweto for 13 years. During that time, he joined Nelson Mandela, Ruth First and Helen Joseph in protests against the forced removals from Sophiatown. Fearing for his safety, the church recalled Huddleston to England in …

One of 702’s strengths has always been our role in the community, offering Gauteng residents a platform to share their views, while giving access to political leaders, celebrities, authors, sports people and many more important individuals. So it came as no surprise that the radio station played a crucial role in the runup to, and during South Afri…

702 has always been an important part of South African society, especially in Gauteng. The station provides hundreds of thousands of listeners the chance to engage in, and listen to, open and honest social and political debate. 702 has, at the same time, been accused by both the left and right wing of the political spectrum of being biased – which …

25 years ago, voting in the country’s first democratic election began on the 26th of April 1994 - the first day of Special Voting. It was the beginning of 4 days of polling, but it was Wednesday the 27th that most South Africans were waiting for. And while the media was spread across the country, the main focus for many local and international jour…

Well-known journalist, Dan Moyane, was working for 702 Eyewitness News at the time. He was the reporter assigned to the airport bombing story, and he filed this report. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.由702

Many people woke up to the first day of voting in the country’s democratic election, with news that a car bomb had exploded outside the terminal building at Johannesburg’s Jan Smuts International Airport. 18 people were injured, and there was extensive damage to the building and the area around it. One of the eyewitnesses, an editor at American CBS…

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.由702

Today 25 years ago, voting was taking place around the country in South Africa’s first democratic election. The 27 of April 1994, was in fact the second of 4 days of voting. Special voting had started the day before, the 26th of April. That day also saw the new South African flag raised for the first time. The moment wasn’t lost on one of 702’s pop…

25 years ago in technology terms, is equivalent to a couple of lifetimes. This was when cell phones started becoming available in the country. 1994 was also the year democratic South Africa was born. The most popular form of mobile communication at that time was the pager – a foreign piece of equipment to most youngsters today. Practically all repo…

In 1994, a young Cyril Ramaphosa was Secretary General of the ANC. He’d been elected to the role after many years as a trade unionist, eventually leading the powerful National Union of Mineworkers. Many believed that Ramaphosa was being groomed to replace Mandela as President in 1999. But that wasn’t to be. Ramaphosa had to wait another 19 years be…

One of the main parties contesting the 1994 democratic elections was the National Party. Best known for legislating Apartheid in 1948, the party finally decided to reform and negotiate with the ANC on the transition to democracy. FW de Klerk, South Africa’s president at the time, joined Jon Qwelane on 702’s Talk at 9. Aired 20 April 1994 See omnyst…

One of the main parties contesting the 1994 democratic elections was the National Party. Best known for legislating Apartheid in 1948, the party finally decided to reform and negotiate with the ANC on the transition to democracy. FW de Klerk, South Africa’s president at the time, joined Jon Qwelane on 702’s Talk at 9. Aired 20 April 1994 See omnyst…

As part of 702’s extensive coverage of South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, senior award-winning ITN reporter, Desmond Hamill, was brought on board to produce a feature called Election Watch. His brief was to cover election-related events and political developments in the lead-up to the poll, before reporting on the election itself as…

Now around this time 25 years ago, there was a fair amount of anxiety and fear of the unknown. Millions of South Africans were about to vote for the first time, some major parties did not want to take part in the poll, right wingers were planting bombs, while political violence in what was Natal threatened the election altogether. White South Afric…

On Sunday the 11th of February 1990, after 27 years behind bars, Nelson Mandela walked out of Victor Verster Prison, a free man. Just over 4-years later, as ANC president, he led the party into South Africa’s first democratic elections. In one of his last major media interviews before the polls opened, he joined Jon Qwelane on 702’s Talk at 9. List…