Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela enjoy a warm welcome at Queens Park, Toronto. The fall of the Soviet Union led to negotiations towards democracy, and the release of Mandela taking place, writes the author. (Photo: Colin McConnell/Toronto Star/Getty Images)
The disintegration of the Soviet Union in the late 80s led to the end of communist occupation in Poland. In South Africa, the collapse of the Soviet Union created a conducive environment for a negotiated settlement to end apartheid. Mpumelelo Mkhabela reflects on comparisons between Poland and South Africa following a recent trip to the Polish city of Gdansk.
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