Mandela was released on February 11, 1990, after 27 years in prison.
South Africa's current President Jacob Zuma, said in a statement that the country would continue to be inspired by Mandela's vision of a non-racial, democratic and prosperous society.
South Africa's last apartheid president, F W De Klerk, said in a statement that he was sure Mandela would have been proud of the achievements the country had made in the years since his release.
De Klerk also said that he was sure that Mandela would, however, be disturbed by the continued instances of racism in the country.
