How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country (i) in the first decade, and (ii) in the final decade, of the twentieth century?
in the first decade of the twentieth century
Mandela describes the systems of government in his country as follows:
(i) In the first decade of the twentieth century, the system was Apartheid. This was a political system that separated people according to their race, where authorities would arrest individuals rather than salute them.
(ii) In the final decade of the twentieth century, the system was a democracy. The country had a new government that had been freely and fairly elected, demonstrated by the military's loyalty to democracy and their salute to the new President.
Explanation
The provided context contrasts the two distinct political eras in South Africa. The first decade was defined by 'Apartheid', explicitly defined in the text as a political system separating people by race. The final decade marked the birth of a new nation with 'democratic elections' and a 'new government that had been freely and fairly elected'. The shift in the military's attitude—from arresting Mandela to pledging loyalty and saluting him—further illustrates this transition from racial oppression to democratic freedom.