Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South Africa, is elected in the country's first fully democratic elections.
- The African National Congress (ANC), led by Mandela, wins 62.6% of the votes, easily defeating the National Party, which had ruled South Africa since 1948.
- Mandela becomes president on 10 May 1994, marking the end of apartheid and the beginning of a new era of democracy and reconciliation in South Africa.
Other notable events that happened on April 27th:
1521
Ferdinand Magellan reaches the Philippines, becoming the first European to circumnavigate the globe.
1813
The United States declares war on Great Britain, starting the War of 1812.
1908
The first public performance of the film The Story of the Kelly Gang takes place in Melbourne, Australia. It is the first feature-length film to be produced in Australia.
1961
The Sierra Leone People's Party wins the first general election in Sierra Leone, leading to the country's independence from the United Kingdom on April 27, 1962.
2005
YouTube is founded by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim.