Convention for a Democratic South Africa
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The Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) was the forum for the negotiations for the end of the apartheid system in South Africa.
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[edit] Participants
CODESA began on 20 December 1991, approximately ten months after the unbanning of political parties including the African National Congress and the release of Nelson Mandela by President F.W. de Klerk.
Nineteen groups were represented at CODESA, including the South African government, political parties and organisations, traditional leaders, and the leaders of the nominally independent bantustans of Transkei, Ciskei, Bophuthatswana and Venda.
[edit] Negotiations
During the negotiations, De Klerk's government pushed for a two-phase transition with an appointed transitional government with a rotating presidency. The ANC pushed instead for a transition in a single stage to majority rule.
Other key issues during the transition included minority rights, decisions a unitary or federal state, property rights, indemnity from prosecution for politically motivated crimes, and the end of the ANC's armed struggle.
When the National Party (South Africa) lost three by-elections to the Conservative Party of South Africa in early 1992, F.W. de Klerk announced that a "whites only" referendum would be held on the issue of reforms and negotiation. The result was a landslide victory for the "yes" side, over 68% of the voters voted for a continuation of the reforms and negotiations. (see. South African referendum, 1992)
CODESA took place against a backdrop of political violence in the country, including allegations of a state-sponsored third force destabilising the country. In June 1992, the Boipatong massacre took place, with 46 residents of Boipatong killed by mainly-Zulu hostel dwellers. The massacre nearly caused the negotiations to collapse, with Mandela accusing De Klerk's government of complicity in the attack.
In protest at the perceived sidelining of the mainly-Zulu Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Mangosuthu Buthelezi took the IFP out of CODESA and formed the Concerned South Africans Group (COSAG) together with traditional leaders, homeland leaders and white right-wing groups. A period of brinkmanship followed, with the IFP remaining out of the negotiations until within days of the election on 27 April 1994.
The negotiations were dramatically interrupted when the right-wing Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging stormed the World Trade Centre in Kempton Park, breaking through the glass front of the building with an armoured car and briefly taking over the negotiations chamber.
In April 1993, the assassination of Chris Hani, a senior ANC leader, by white right-wingers again brought the country to the brink of disaster, but ultimately proved a turning point, after which the main parties pushed for a settlement with increased determination.
Two key negotiators during CODESA were Cyril Ramaphosa of the ANC, and Roelf Meyer of National Party (South Africa), who formed a close friendship. Ultimately, however, it was Joe Slovo, leader of the South African Communist Party, whose proposed "sunset clause" for a coalition government for the five years following a democratic election, including guarantees and concessions to all sides. A draft constitution was published and Transitional Executive Council oversaw the run-up to a democratic election.
[edit] Aftermath
The election held on 27 April 1994 resulted in the ANC winning 62% of the vote, and Nelson Mandela becoming president, with De Klerk and Thabo Mbeki as deputies. Transitional politics continued after the election, with a new constitution finally agreed in 1995, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission dealing with politically motivated crimes committed during the apartheid era.
