5.2.5 The settlement that was reached Agreement on interim constitution: National Assembly of 400 representatives elected by proportional representation Nine provinces Senate with 10 representatives from each province

Interim Constitution President to be elected by National Assembly National Assembly and Senate to form constitutional assembly to draft final constitution Government of National Unity for first five years Establishment of Constitutional Court

First Election Plans for first democratic election: Vote for all over 18 Date set for 27 April 1994

5.2.6 Attempts to disrupt the election Several groups threatened the election process: APLA (armed wing of PAC) launched attacks on civilians (e.g. St James Church massacre) – PAC finally agreed to end armed struggle

Disruptions to the election Right-wing Afrikaners launched bombing campaign in Johannesburg, including bomb at Johannesburg Airport on day of election; AWB “invaded” Bophuthatswana

Disruptions to the election Inkatha march in Johannesburg near ANC headquarters – violent clashes between Inkatha and ANC Buthelezi (Inkatha leader) threatened to boycott election – only agreed to participate one week before it

5.2.7 South Africa’s first democratic election Attempts to disrupt election failed 27-29 April 1994: 20 million voted in 1st democratic election

Elections IEC had to ensure that it was “free and fair” Foreign governments and organizations sent observers Ballot papers designed to ensure all could participate Voting lasted for over three days in some areas Counting took over a week

Election results Election results: ANC 63%, NP 20%, IFP 10%

5.3 The Government of national Unity (GNU) Pre-election agreement: A coalition government for first 5 years All parties with 5% votes to be part of it – ANC, NP and IFP qualified

First cabinet First cabinet included 12 ANC, 6 NP and 3 IFP members Mandela first president Mbeki and De Klerk deputies IFP leader, Buthelezi, minister of Home Affairs

SA became part of world community Under GNU, SA became part of world community: Joined OAU and SADC Re-joined Commonwealth Became important member of Non-Aligned Movement UN lifted arms embargo, SA participated again in General Assembly

Challenges facing the Government of National Unity State of economy: Effects of sanctions Huge debts of apartheid government Low economic growth rates High inflation and taxation rates Massive unemployment of unskilled workers

Economic and social inequalities inequalities resulting from apartheid: Great poverty; millions lacked basic services and schools With democracy, people expected jobs, housing better education and healthcare Government could not deliver these without real economic growth

Local and provincial government New structure of local and provincial government needed: Former homelands to be incorporated into nine provinces Civil services and police force to be restructured New national defence force (SANDF) to integrate MK, APLA, former homeland armies and the SADF Education system to be restructured

Problems in the townships Legacy of protest politics – non-payment of rent and services High levels of violence and crime

Underlying issues Underlying issues of fundamental importance: How to deal with the past (i.e. legacy of inequality and apartheid) How to face the future (i.e. national reconciliation and nation-building)

5.2.10 The new constitution Provisions in pre-election agreement: Interim constitution (until after 1994 election) Final constitution (to be drawn up by first parliament) National Assembly and Senate to form Constitutional Assembly

Input from ordinary people wanted – but there were problems: Many illiterate, rural people, with no access to TV No tradition of consultation between government and citizens Many did not recognize the importance of the constitution

Massive media campaign campaign to inform people and invite input: Public meetings Workshops Written submissions

5.2.11 The impact of the new constitution May 1996: New constitution adopted SA a constitutional democracy Constitutional Court to protect and uphold constitution Bill of Rights (and commissions on Human Rights and Gender Equality)

Access to constitution Millions of copies of constitution distributed in 11 official languages Written in ordinary (not legalistic language)

5.2.12 The break-up of the Government of National Unity May 1996: NP withdrew – became part of the opposition De Klerk stepped down as deputy president – retired from politics NP later disbanded Inkatha remained part of GNU (even after 5 years)

Achievements of GNU: Showed how democracy could work in SA Adopted constitution based on human rights Established mechanisms of dealing with legacy of past