It is only 21 years since the first democratic elections.
Compare that with the USA - their first elections were held in 1788, although women and slaves were not entitled to vote..
Or the United Kingdom, where voting took place from as early as 1688, although only some men were allowed to vote. True democratic elections only took place after women were given the vote.
Or Australia - their first elections for the Federal Parliament were in 1901.
Or New Zealand. Although not everyone was allowed to vote until about 50 years later (New Zealand was the first country to give women the vote), they held their first elections in 1853.
But even in the short time we have been a democracy, a lot has happened - here in South Africa, and in the world.
And we are part of that History.
Share some of the things that have happened in your country in the years from 1990 to 2011.
You could use these headings to help you:
- POLITICS
- SPORT
- MUSIC and MOVIES
- NATURAL DISASTERS
- ECONOMICS