History of South Africa (1994–present) History of South Africa (1994–present) South Africa since 1994 transitioned from the system of apartheid to one of majority rule. The election of 1994 resulted in a change in government with the African National Congress (ANC) coming to power. The ANC retained power after subsequent elections in 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014. Children born during this period are known as the "born-free" generation, and those aged eighteen or older, were able to vote for the first time in 2014. Following the election of 27 April 1994, Nelson Mandela was sworn in as President of South Africa. The Government of National
Malawi–South Africa relations Malawians were viewed as important workers in the South African mines due to their "skills, work discipline and lack of militancy". Malawi was the only country in Africa to maintain diplomatic relations with South Africa during the apartheid era. Hastings Banda was the first black President ever to visit South Africa in 1971 and the first chief of any foreign state to come since the United Kingdom's King George VI's visit in 1947. During his visit, Banda received a 21 gun salute and an official welcome from President Jacobus Johannes Fouché. White students at the University of Stellenbosch applauded him