People lay a wreath at a statue of nelson Mandela in front of victor vester prison in South Africa on February 11.

Thirty years ago, on February 11, 1990, after 27 years in captivity, 71-year-old nelson mandela raised a clenched fist and emerged triumphantly from the gates of victor verster prison on robben island, welcoming freedom without revenge and with tolerance and reconciliation.

Thirty years later, South Africa’s archbishop Desmond tutu wrote a statement on Friday to remember mandela’s release: “nelson mandela came out of prison and dazzled South Africa and the world with his warmth and human values. Times change, but good values never go out of fashion. We miss him.”

After his release from prison, mandela persisted in his belief of fighting against racism and pursuing equality and freedom, finally realizing the end of apartheid system in South Africa and the establishment of majority rule and rights enjoyed by all South Africans. At the time of his release, many south africans were getting their first glimpse of the anti-racism fighter, whose portraits and comments were banned by the apartheid regime during his imprisonment. And then, all of a sudden, he was everywhere. In a speech to tens of thousands of people at Cape Town’s town hall a few hours after his release from prison, Mr. Mandela said that most white and black south africans had come to recognize that apartheid had no future.

South Africa’s current President, matamela Cyril ramaphosa, who once held the microphone for mandela, addressed the nation on November 11 with the title “a speech for the birth of a new nation.” In 1993, in the face of opposition from within his own party and the public, mandela insisted on sharing the Nobel peace prize with fredrik DE klerk, the last President of the apartheid government, in order to promote national reconciliation. In 1994, mandela led the anc to victory in South Africa’s first non-racial general election, becoming the country’s first black President.

Under Mr. Mandela, South Africa legally ended apartheid in 1997 with a permanent constitution that upheld the rights of all.

During his time in office, mandela vigorously promoted the policy of racial reconciliation, improving the political status and living standards of black people, while protecting the rights of white people and ensuring that they live in peace and contentment. Tolerance, kindness and tolerance continued throughout his presidency, which ended in June 1999.

Today, South Africa still suffers from problems that critics say are the legacy of apartheid. Some south africans criticized mandela for making too many concessions, especially to the white community. Ramaphosa said mandela’s release was “a defining moment in our progress,” but that inequality, particularly in terms of race and gender, remains among the highest in the world. Unemployment is rising, poverty is widespread and violence, especially by men against women, continues to ravage our communities “.

Ramaphosa urged all south africans to follow in mandela’s footsteps and work together to solve these problems.

In November 2009, the United Nations general assembly adopted a resolution to designate July 18 as “nelson mandela international day” every year from 2010.