South Africa had been ruled by a white minority government that earned notoriety for its apartheid (racial segregation) policy.
South Africa accomplished a peaceful transition of power , with the black majority party, African National Congress (ANC) , taking over power .
ANC's leader, Nelson , a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, served as its first post-apartheid president.
Since then, South Africa has embarked on a new journey toward political reconciliation and economic liberalization.