Until the early 1990s, not all people in south africa were allowed to be participate in government. political offices were filled only by white south africans, either afrikaners or those of english ancestry. this changed, however, in 1994 when nelson mandela was elected president in an election open to all the people of south africa. this passage to illustrate that, until 1994, south africa's government could be classified as a) a democracy. b) an oligarchy. c) an autocracy. d) a federation.