After Mandela's release in February 1990, Magubane was selected as his official photographer to chronicle South Africa's four-year transition to democracy.
Ngemuva kokukhululwa kuka Mandela ngo 1990. uMangubane waqokwa ukuba abe ngumthwebuli wakhe wezithombe ngokumisiweyo okusemthethweni ukushicilela kahle okwakwenzeka kuguquko lweNingizimu Afrika kwiminyaka emine yentando yeningi.