On 27 November 1996 President Mandela suddenly announced that South Africa will break off diplomatic relations with the ROC on 31 December 1997, and establish relations with Beijing on 1 January 1998.
南非總統曼德拉在一九九六年十一月二十七日突然宣佈，南非將於明年十二月三十一日與我斷交，並於一九九八年一月一日與中共正式建交。