July 1991 - The sexual orientation clause is endorsed

OLGA went on to contact ten political parties and questioned them about their policy regarding the specific inclusion of sexual orientation as a protected category in the Bill of Rights. The Democratic Party responded affirmatively: “The Bill of Rights will guarantee all persons irrespective of sexual preference the following fundamental rights [including] equal protection of the law.” The National Party and Labour Party maintained they were committed only to general protections of individual rights while the Conservative Party stated that a Bill of Rights would be unnecessary because “the Ten Commandments serve as the best Bill of Rights and all rights are sufficiently enshrined therein.” Six other political parties neglected to respond.

EXPLORE THE ARCHIVE

Audio Visual

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”.

“We must construct that people-centred society of freedom in such a manner that it guarantees the political and the human rights of all our citizens.”– President Mandela, extract from State of the Nation Address, 24 May 1994

President Nelson Mandela announces his cabinet. It includes members of the African National Congress, National Party and Inkatha Freedom Party.

“There was pride in serving in the first democratic government in South Africa, and then the additional pride of serving under the iconic leadership of Nelson Mandela … [He] represented the hopes of not just our country, but of oppressed, marginalised and the poor in the world.”– Jay Naidoo, then Minister of RDP housing
“We place our vision of a new constitutional order for South Africa on the table not as conquerors, prescribing to the conquered. We speak as fellow citizens to heal the wounds of the past with the intent of constructing a new order based on justice for all.”– President Nelson Mandela, 10 May 1994