Ticket to the inauguration of Nelson Mandela

Ticket to the inauguration of Nelson Mandela


Theme(s): Anti-apartheid

Keystage: KS3

BGA reference: BG/P/12/16

This is Bernie Grant MP’s ticket to enter the amphitheatre to attend the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as President of The Republic of South Africa on May 10th, 1994. Bernie Grant was an honoured guest in recognition of his role in the global Anti-Apartheid movement, which saw  Mandela walk free from prison in 1990after 27 years. Four years later he became the first democratically elected black president, as leader of the African National Congress (ANC) and set about ending the apartheid system.  

Bernie Grant built such a strong connection between the London Borough of Haringey, his home borough, and the Anti-Apartheid movement. It had become home to many South African leaders in exile, such as Oliver Tambo (President of the African National Congress from 1967 to 1991), with whom he worked in the powerful campaign to free Mr Mandela while he was in prison. 

 Bernie Grant was part of the contingent who In 1990, accompanied by the Reverend Jesse Jackson went to South Africa to greet Nelson Mandela on the day of his release. Later he established an information technology centre amid the townships in the Free State, which was named after him. 

How can the artefacts support your teaching and students’ learning

Understanding Nelson Mandela through the archive helps to paint a picture of South Africa under Apartheid, the struggle to overthrow that system, the global nature of that struggle and the efforts to transform the country. Apartheid was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s   that forced white and black South Africans to live separate lives under apartheid. The archive can also shed light on why Nelson Mandela believed that everybody should be treated equally and his demonstrations against apartheid through the African National Congress (ANC) and the ANC Youth League and what led to him being imprisoned in 1964.

Similarly, the archive can help illuminate why in 1990 the then President FW de Klerk succumbed to pressure and released Mandela precipitating the end of Apartheid.

History KS3, GCSE and A-Level

As a non-British depth study that focuses on a substantial and coherent short time span and requires students to understand the, It also allows a study of the historic environment and the relationship between the place and historical events and developments.

Linking the artefacts to the present day

  • The current political climate in South Africa.
  • The importance of being allowed to vote.International campaigning – such as Extinction Rebellion
  • The importance of protest and community-based action in creating changes
  • How participation in political activity can transform societies
  • Engage in debates about the nature of justice, reparations and it’s importance in creating conditions for reconciliation e.g. what can we learn from S.A about the reparations debate in the UK?