The storm over the Interim Bill of Rights On 2 February 1993, a storm broke out between negotiators over the question of the Bill of Rights in the Interim Constitution. On that day, the government unilaterally unveiled its own Charter of Fundamental Rights. Justice Minister at the time, Kobie Coetsee, said that in the proposed …
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14. The 1994 Women’s Charter for Effective Equality ‘Operation Big Ears’ ‘Operation Big Ears’, headed by Pregs Govender, eventually got underway in July 1993. It is estimated that the campaign and the research reached more than two million women despite internal conflicts about the direction, content, and style of the campaign. The outcome of the …
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The Workers Charter Campaign The Workers Charter Campaign was co-ordinated by Ebrahim Patel, who explained the purpose of the campaign: COSATU is calling for civil society to play a more important role in determining the new Constitution. Constitution-making should not be confined to parliament and political parties. The campaign involved identifying workers’ demands through workshops …
11. The 1988 ANC Bill of Rights Justice Albie Sachs’s notes on the Bill of Rights. Albie Sachs Collection, UWC Robben Island Museum Mayibuye Archives Albie Sachs, then member of the ANC’s Constitutional Committee, tells the story of how he and Kader Asmal began the process of writing the Bill of Rights: A month after …
The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) The OAU was established between 22 and 25 May 1963 when delegates from 32 African countries convened in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. The intention of the Union was to form a continental base for pan-Africanism based on a consensus of structural, military and political institutions. The many …
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7. The 1959 Declaration of the Rights of the Child The Declaration of the Rights of the Child evolves into the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child In 1978, the UN Commission on Human Rights put forth a draft of a Convention on the Rights of the Child for consideration by a working …
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5. The 1955 Freedom Charter The campaign for the Freedom Charter In 1954, the Congress Alliance began to plan the Congress of the People, a countrywide campaign intended to encourage ordinary South Africans to submit their ideas for ‘the good life that they seek for themselves and their children’. Fifty thousand enthusiastic volunteers embarked on …
Who Drafted the Charter? The Women’s Charter was probably drafted by Ray Alexander and Hilda Watts, the co-organisers of the conference with contributions from the delegates to the conference. The official “Report on the first National Conference of Women” mentioned nearly 150 women in attendance whilst in a letter from Alexander to Watts stipulates 137 …
3. The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) From the UDHR to the International Bill of Human Rights The International Bill of Human Rights was the name given to UN General Assembly Resolution 217 (III) and two international treaties established by the United Nations. The following five documents are the foundation of the International …
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2. The 1943 African Claims in South Africa Document Members of the Atlantic Committee The ANC’s Atlantic Charter Committee Members comprised: R.G. Baloyi, Treasurer-General, African National Congress. Dr R.T. Bokwe M.B., Ch.B., Medical Practitioner, Executive Member A.N.C., Additional District Surgeon, Middledrift. Rev. James Calata, Priest, Secretary-General, A.N.C. R.H. Godlo, Member of Native Representative Council, President …
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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.
