Secondary School Intervention

Programme

THE COMING OF DEMOCRACY IN SA

 Topic 5: The coming of democracy in South Africa
How did South Africa emerge as
a democracy from the crises of
the 1990s?

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 Background and focus

• Debates around the negotiating process

between the ANC and the NP government.
• The stalemate in the struggle (end of Cold
War).
• The compromise on both sides.
• The need for negotiations – team effort on
both sides.
• Choices made in the process coming to terms
with the past.
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The negotiated settlement and Government of National
Unity

• The beginning of the solution

• Unbanning of organisations,
• release of political prisoners

FREE AT LAST: Nelson Mandela is released

from prison on 11 February 1990 after 27
years of imprisonment, the majority of
which was spent on Robben Island. He
raises his fist with his then wife Winnie
Mandela and some of his ANC comrades.

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 Start of negotiations
• CODESA I was preceded by three key meetings between the
South African government and the ANC to prepare the way:
• CODESA 1- December 1991- Formal negotiations began at
The Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA).
- 4 May 1990: Groote Schuur Minute
- 6 August 1990: The Pretoria Minute
- 14 September 1991: The National Peace Accord was
signed by representatives of twenty-seven political
organisations as well as national and homeland
governments.
 Start of negotiations continued

• They pledged themselves to work together to

achieve greater tolerance.
• The police were reminded of their duty to
protect the people of South Africa irrespective
of race, religion, political affiliation and
gender.

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 Whites only Referendum
• In the period between CODESA I and CODESA II in early
1992, the National Party lost three by-elections to the
Conservative Party.
• De Klerk announced a 'whites only' referendum to test white
opinion on reform and negotiations.
• The result of the referendum was a landslide 'yes'. De Klerk
had the mandate he needed.
• De Klerk could no longer use the excuse of white
conservative opinion to procrastinate in moving towards a
non-racial election.
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 Ongoing violence
• 17 June 1992 – Boipatong Massacre – Members
of Inkatha allegedly attacked hostel dwellers.
• ANC walked out of the negotiation process.
• Breakdown of negotiations at CODESA II.
• The ANC took to the streets with a programme
of ‘rolling mass action’.

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 On going violence continued
• On 7 September 1992, a crowd of about
80 000 people gathered in Bhisho to protest
against the Ciskei ‘homeland’ government of
Brigadier Oupa Gqozo.
• Ciskeian troops and the South African
Defence Force opened fire on unarmed
protesters, killing 28 people.

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 Record of Understanding: September 1992
• Following the collapse of CODESA II, behind the scenes
talks between the ANC and the NP became the main
channel for the process of negotiations. The two key
negotiators were Cyril Ramaphosa of the ANC, and Roelf
Meyer of the National Party.
• The government agreed to:
- Release more political prisoners.
- Erect fences around migrant worker's hostels.
- Ban the carrying of 'traditional' weapons.
• CODESA ended and MK was disbanded.
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 Multiparty negotiation process resumes
• Formal multi-party negotiations resumed.
• Murder of Chris Hani – April 1993.
• Significance to the process of negotiation.
• Date of elections set.
 Government of National Unity

• Joe Slovo (SACP) suggested a 5 year Govt of

National Unity (GNU) a ‘power sharing’
compromise.
• The GNU would include all parties which
obtained over 5% of the vote in democratic
elections for the first five years. This meant
that the National Party was sure to be
included.
• The term 'sunset clause' was used for this
compromise.
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 Violence continues
• AWB invasion of World Trade Centre – June 1993
• St. James Massacre - During the Sunday evening
service on 25 July 1993, a group of APLA cadres
attacked the St. James Church in Kenilworth. Using
grenades and AK-47s, they killed 11 members of the
congregation and wounded 58.
• Killing at the Heidelberg Tavern
- An attack on the Heidelberg Tavern took
place in Observatory, Cape Town in
December 1993. 13
 Final road to democracy
• In November 1993 an Interim Constitution for South Africa
was agreed upon.
• March 1994 - Shell House Massacre - IFP members killed
by ANC security forces.
• Freedom Front and the IFP join elections.
• The Government of National Unity – oversee a new
constitution.
• 27th April 1994 South Africa’s first democratic elections.

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Video on democracy in SA

Video on democracy in SA
South Africa's Transition from Apartheid to Democracy.mp4

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