Mandela sworn in as president

First South African leader post-apartheid

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THIRTY-ONE years ago today, peace icon Nelson Mandela - who had spent years in jail during apartheid - was sworn in as the new President of South Africa.

An African nationalist, Mandela became involved with the African National Congress, and would later become its president.

In 1963, Mandela and 15 other ANC leaders were arrested in Johannesburg and charged with acts of sabotage designed to “ferment violent revolution”.