exceptional burden of leadership now resting on his shoulders. His generosity of spirit was a great factor in the rapport that existed between the two negotiating teams in South Africa. Mr. Mandela had emerged as a unifying force, bringing hope to a tormented country. The joy at having him present, a free man at last, was tempered by the kaowledge that neither he nor any black South African was yet truly free. The ongoing discussions between ANC and the South African Government were encouraging, but they were only the first step. Freedom would come with the demise of apartheid. 14. It was evident that Pretoria had come to realize that negotiations offered the only way out of their political crisis and international isolation, and the recent breakthroughs heralde.d a crucial transition towards the liberation that was for so long a distant goal. While there was reason for some optimism, the international community must continue to pledge its full and effective support to those who must nego.tiate the eradication of apartheid. 15. In December 1989, at the sixteenth special session of the General Assembly, the United Nations Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa had been unanimously adopted. That historic document (resolution S-16/1) clearly spelt out the international community's vision of a new South Africa and the foundations on which it could be built. The Declaration specifically called for the non-relaxation of existing measures aimed at encouraging the South Afr_ican Government to eradicate apartheid until there was clear evidence of profound and irreversible chan9e. Nelson Mandala's first-hand assessment of the progress made thus far in South Africa would help the General Assembly, when it reconvened to consider the Secretary-General's report on the implementation of the Declaration, to reach a decision on the crucial question of sanctions. 
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the political situation in South Africa, specifically the negotiations between the ANC and the South African Government, and the international community's role in supporting the eradication of apartheid. While it does not explicitly mention any specific economic, social, or environmental issues, it does touch on the broader implications of apartheid's demise on the country's future.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International relations