What year saw the election of South Africa's first democratically elected president?

The year 1994 is significant in South African history as it marks the election of Nelson Mandela, the country's first democratically elected president. This election was a pivotal moment, representing the end of decades of apartheid, a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that had oppressed the majority of the population. The 1994 elections were groundbreaking because they allowed all citizens, regardless of race, to participate in the electoral process for the first time, signifying a major shift towards a more inclusive and representative democracy.

Prior to 1994, in 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, but a formal election had not yet taken place. The year 1992 saw negotiations and discussions about the transition to democracy, but it was not until 1994 that the actual elections occurred. In 1996, important constitutional developments took place, including the adoption of a new constitution, but this was after Mandela had already been elected and was in office. The critical distinction lies in the fact that the elections where Mandela was elected occurred in 1994, making it the correct choice for this question.