1. 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

2. 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

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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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)

18. 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

19. 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

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

21. 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)

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

23. 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)

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