Administration Cyril Ramaphosa decided that he couldn’t rely on the already overstretched parliamentary administration to undertake the responsibility for the Constitutional Assembly. They needed to establish their own administration. Ramaphosa immediately approached Hassen Ebrahim, a senior ANC official throughout the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) process and who had been a senior official …
Management Committee 12 Members The Management Committee shaped the constitution-writing process at its weekly 8 a.m. meetings in V16, the room used for state security briefings in President PW Botha’s time. From left, deputy executive director Marion Sparg, General Constand Viljoen (FF), Colin Eglin (DP), Mavivi Myakayaka-Manzini (ANC), Mohammed Valli Moosa (ANC), executive director Hassen …
Panel of Independent Constitutional Experts 7 Members An independent panel of constitutional experts consisting of seven members was set up to assist with conflict-resolution and to advise the Chairpersons and the CA. The members were: Prof MG Erasmus, Prof C Murray, Advocate I Semenya, Adv Z Yacoob, Prof J Kruger, MP Sedibe-Ncholo and Prof J …
Constitutional Committee 46 Members The 46-member multi-party Constitutional Committee was one of the first structures set up by the CA to act as a central co-ordinating body in the constitution-making process, and to negotiate the draft text of the Constitution. This Committee received reports from the Theme Committees and in turn, prepared reports for the …
The 34 Constitutional Principles I The Constitution of South Africa shall provide for the establishment of one sovereign state, a common South African citizenship and a democratic system of government committed to achieving equality between men and women and people of all races. II Everyone shall enjoy all universally accepted fundamental rights, freedoms and civil …
ELEMENT 1 – VALUES It was necessary for the drafters to establish the system of values that would underlie the structures of government and the manner in which they were to function. These values were set out in a powerful preamble as well as in the founding provisions in the opening sections of the Constitution …
THEME COMMITTEE 6 Theme Committee 6 dealt with Specialised Structures of Government. Given the expanse of its work, the Theme Committee decided to establish four Sub-Theme Committees for convenience and expediency’s sake: Sub-Theme Committee 6.1 dealt with public administration Sub-Theme Committee 6.2 dealt with financial institutions and public enterprises Sub-Theme Committee 6.3 dealt with transformation …
THEME COMMITTEE 5 Theme Committee 5 dealt with the judiciary and legal systems, and dealt with the following issues with regard to Constitutional Principles VII and XIII: The structure of the court system The relationship between the different levels of courts The composition and appointment of judicial officers Access to courts, including lay participation Traditional …
THEME COMMITTEE 4 Theme Committee 4 dealt with Fundamental Rights. The mandate and work of the committee was guided by Constitutional Principle II which states: “Everyone shall enjoy all universally accepted fundamental rights, freedoms and civil liberties, which shall be provided for and protected by entrenched and justiciable (capable of being decided by a court) …
THEME COMMITTEE 3 Theme Committee 3 dealt with the relationship between levels of government: Nature and status of the provincial system and local government National and provincial executive and legislative competencies Intergovernmental relations Local government Financial and fiscal relations Theme Committee 3 in numbers: Theme Committee 3 held 50 meetings between 19 September 1994 and …
President Mandela gives his State of the Nation address in Parliament. Mandela ends his address with the words, “Let us all get down to work”.
President Nelson Mandela announces his cabinet. It includes members of the African National Congress, National Party and Inkatha Freedom Party.
