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On 18 March 1992, white South Africans overwhelmingly backed a mandate for political reforms to end apartheid and create a power-sharing multi-racial government.

It was a high-stakes referendum coming on the back of three by-elections where the ruling National Party had lost to the right wing Conservative party.

In a speech after the polling victory, President FW de Klerk said: \\u201cToday we have closed the book on apartheid\\u201d. His communications adviser, David Steward speaks to Josephine McDermott.

(Photo: President FW de Klerk with news of the referendum win. Credit: AP)