The South African anti-apartheid activist who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 died on this day, December 5, in 2013. Mandela was photographed by Karsh in June, 1990, just four months after Mandela’s release from prison. Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada at the time, greeted Mandela at the airport and accompanied him to the Chateau Laurier for his portrait. Read what happened.