April 1994 was SA’s story of the century

Free, fair elections heralded era of hope, reconciliation, writes MICHAEL MORRIS

ONE of the more endearing April 1994 stories concerns Oom Daantjie Snyders of Mier, a speck of a hamlet on the edge of the Kalahari desert. Snyders was a democrat, but not a rash man; having seen the news and footage of those snaking lines of patient voters across the country, some stretching for kilometres, he had no intention of languishing needlessly in a polling booth queue. Fortunately, as South Africa’s historic poll was spread over several days, Snyders had his options.

“I didn’t want to vote on Wednesday,” he explained, “because I wanted to avoid the rush.” His precaution, it turned out, was excessive; Snyders’ vote brought the grand total for Mier to 10.

Those 10 votes, though, formed part of an inaugural democratic enterprise that was mind-boggling in scale, and daunting in its logistical and political implications.

The country’s last general election five years earlier – itself the precursor of things to come, given that it affirmed FW de Klerk’s role as a key figure in the transition – drew some 2.5 million votes.

The 1994 contest attracted no fewer than 19.5 million.

There was a ring of comforting bravado to the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) chipper promise – “You’re ready, we’re ready, let’s do it” – but it didn’t take much imagination to recognise the challenge.

No-nonsense Judge Johann Kriegler, the man given the job of making it happen, had been told it would be impossible to organise an election of this scale in less than a year and that, preferably, two years was needed. With a hastily employed staff

NEWSPAPERS ARCHIVE AT UCT PICTURES: INDEPENDENT Nelson Mandela with members of his first cabinet – including partner and rival, National Party leader FW de Klerk – outside Tuynhuys.

Election fever sweeps the West Coast in 1994.

Democratic Party leader Tony Leon on the election trail in Cape Town in 1994.