By DAVID CRARY, Associated Press
JOHANNESBURG — Built on the edge of Soweto, Soccer City stadium will be the grand stage for Sunday’s World Cup final. For many South Africans, though, the site has been hallowed ground for two decades — not because of sports, but as a historic venue in the anti-apartheid struggle.
In October 1989, with apartheid still in force, Soccer City’s precursor stadium hosted an electrifying rally at which more than 70,000 blacks greeted newly freed leaders of the still-outlawed African National Congress. The group included most of the ANC’s long-imprisoned hierarchy except Nelson Mandela.
It was the largest anti-government rally in South African history — but the record was short-lived.
Less than four months later, an even bigger, more euphoric crowd overflowed FNB Stadium to welcome home Mandela himself, the paramount ANC leader, at last freed unconditionally by the white-minority government after 27 years in prison. Some young men scaled the light towers high above the stadium to see their hero.
Together, the rallies — witnessed by scores of foreign journalists and diplomats — were graphic proof of the ANC’s massive popular support, sending an unmistakable message that its leaders would play central roles as South Africa moved forward on a bumpy path away from apartheid.
“The rallies were very important symbolic statements,” said Murphy Morobe, a leading activist who helped organize the events. “It was so important for people to hear our leaders not compromising, even after spending so much time in prison.”

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