Today, 20 years ago, Nelson Mandela walked through the gates of the Victor Verster prison near Paarl in the Western Cape.  A free man after 27 years behind bars.

While typing this, I am listening to South African radio stations streaming live over the internet, in particular CapeTalk/702 who is broadcasting live from what used to be called the Victor Verster prison (now called the Drakenstein prison) and Mandela’s ‘home’ for about 18 months of his 27 years behind bars.

All through today, ex-political prisoners, cabinet ministers and other dignitaries have been arriving at the prison where special celebrations are being held.

A common question asked by the media on this 20th celebration is “Where were you when Nelson Mandela became a free man?”

Twenty years ago to the day, I was a student at university where I was assisting new students during the university’s orientation week.  I remember that on that particular Sunday, we were meeting at the university residences when word came that Nelson Mandela was about to be released and would speak at the Grand Parade in Cape Town. 

Needless to say, the meeting ended abruptly as we hurriedly made plans to join the throngs in the Cape Town city centre.  What a day it was.  Both chaotic and celebratory.  This was the headline of a Cape Town “struggle newspaper” called Grassroots on the historic day: