Final answer:
Nelson Mandela was the first black South African president, elected in 1994 following the end of apartheid. He had been a long-time activist and leader of the ANC, imprisoned for 27 years prior to his presidency.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first black South African president was Nelson Mandela, who was elected after the end of the apartheid system. This system of racial segregation, established in 1948, denied black majority their political and civil rights and was dismantled during the presidency of F.W. De Klerk. Mandela, a member of the Xhosa royal family, had also been a political activist and leader of the African National Congress (ANC), which was a focal point for resistance against apartheid policies. He was released from prison in 1990 after 27 years and became a symbol of the struggle against apartheid. In the historic multiracial elections of 1994, Mandela was elected as president, marking a new era for South Africa. His presidency signaled the transition from apartheid to a democratic government and he worked towards racial reconciliation in the country.