Final answer:
The mid '80s and '90s saw the end of apartheid in South Africa, a system of racial segregation that was dismantled following decades of resistance, culminating in democratic elections in 1994.
Step-by-step explanation:
End of Apartheid in South Africa
The mid '80s and '90s saw the end of apartheid in South Africa, which was a policy of racial segregation and oppression instituted by the white minority government. The system, established formally in 1948, deprived the black majority and other non-white ethnic groups of political and civil rights. Anti-apartheid movements, both within South Africa and internationally, successfully fought against this system through protests, strikes, economic sanctions, and increasing global condemnation. The ANC, led by figures such as Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki among others, was crucial in these efforts. In 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years, marking a significant step towards ending apartheid. By 1994, South Africa held its first democratic elections, allowing all citizens to vote regardless of race, which led to Nelson Mandela's election as president and the official dismantling of apartheid.