By Victor Trammell

Photo credits: Denis Farrell/The Associated Press

For more than 40 years in the twentieth century, the United Nations (UN) was engaged in the violent and racially unjust situation in South Africa.

The UN helped lead a worldwide campaign against European-imposed apartheid in South Africa, as well as orchestrating and assisting the concerted efforts to alleviate the suffering of apartheid’s Black victims. It also gave members of South African groups like the African National Congress a platform to promote the country’s anti-apartheid struggle.

From April 26 to April 29, 1994, South Africa conducted its first multi-racial elections for candidates. On May 10, 1994, Nelson Mandela, the country’s newly elected president, made his inaugural speech from a balcony of the Townhall in Pretoria, South Africa.