Final answer:
Nelson Mandela's release from prison on February 11, 1990, marked the end of apartheid and initiated the start of a democratic South Africa, leading to his election as the country's first Black president. His focus on reconciliation and multiracial government facilitated a peaceful transition and broad societal change.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nelson Mandela's release from prison on February 11, 1990, stands as a pivotal moment in the history of South Africa and the world. His incarceration for 27 years on charges of treason and sabotage made him a symbol of the anti-apartheid struggle.
Upon release, Mandela addressed a nation and world eager for change, calling for reconciliation and the establishment of a multiracial government. The context of his speech was one of optimism and the promise of a new era for South Africa, reflected in the peaceful dismantling of apartheid and the birth of democracy.
The apartheid regime's policies of racial segregation and oppression had been the cause of international condemnation and domestic strife. The release of Mandela and subsequent legalization of the African National Congress (ANC) represented a significant step toward ending apartheid. South Africa's new Constitution, enacted in 1996, then laid the foundation for a society based on democratic principles, equality, and human rights. These changes spurred societal transformations across various sectors, including education, the arts, and political representation.