About this site

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.

Resolution on the need for the resumption of multi-party negotiations 5 March 1993

we, the parties, organisations and administrations assembled in this Multi-party Planning Conference:

being fully conscious ofthe responsibility we individually and collectively bear for the well-being of our country;

being desirous that the problems of our country should be resolved peacefully through a process of negotiation;

realising that the economic upliftment ofthe country depends on the peaceful resolution ofthe country's problems, particularly the constitutional crisis (impasse);

accepting that all the people of this country and the whole community of nations throughout the world look to us to move the country forward towards a non-racial, non-sexist and fully democratic future;

NOW RESOLVE TO:

1. commit ourselves, individually and collectively to the resumption of multi-party negotiations in order to move as speedily as possible towards the attainment of our primary objective, which is the drafting and adoption ofthe new Constitution for South Africa by democratically elected representatives of all the people of this country and also ensuring that neither the present government nor any single party/organisation presides over the process alone.

AND FURTHER RESOLVE THAT:

2. The multi-party forum shall be reconvened as a matter of national urgency, not later than 5 April 1993;

3. Each participating organisation will send two delegates and two advisers.

4. The first meeting will determine, inter alia:

4.1 mechanisms and procedures (including Chairpersonship);

4.2 how to accommodate the views of those participants who were not in CODESA in relation to the agreements reached in CODESA;

4.3 how these agreements can serve as a constructive foundation for the resumed /commenced negotiations process to build on;

4.4 how this forum shall be structured and named;

4.5 the role of the international community.

5. The Facilitating Committee of this conference will have the responsibility of deciding upon and implementing the steps that are necessary to give effect to this resolution.

6. All participants are required to make an unqualified commitment to this process as a pre-requisite for their participation.

and mechanisms are required to resolve the above issues as a matter of national priority. The Negotiating Council shall report to the next meeting of the Negotiating Forum.

The Negotiating Forum: resolution on violence 1 April 1993

We, the participants at the Negotiating Forum meeting at the World Trade Centre on 1 and 2 April 1993:

noting With revulsion the unacceptable escalation of violence that is engulfing our country;

outraged At the killings particularly of women and children;

concerned About the damage violence is inflicting on all aspects of the economy, on relations among people and organisations and the consequent deepening of divisions;

aware That violence poses a threat to the negotiating process which if it continues could wreck the process and plunge our economy into an era of unprecedented conflict.

DO HEREBY UNEQUIVOCALLY

condemn Without reservation the killing and maiming of the citizens of our country;

express Our sympathy and condolences to all those who are suffering in consequence;

commit ourselves To effective joint action by all of us leading to the eradication of violence and to the attainment of peace in our country as soon as possible; to peaceful negotiations as the only way to resolve differences.

AND THEREFORE RESOLVE TO

r. Identify those issues that cause violence and which threaten the negotiating process and the undermining of the effective implementation of the National Peace Accord.

2. Mandate the Negotiating Council to establish what urgent steps

The Negotiating Forum: resolution on the transition process 1 April 1993

The Negotiating Council: resolution on violence 3 June 1993

We, the participants at the Negotiating Forum meeting at the World Trade Centre, Johannesburg on 1st and 2nd April 1993, having,

Received a report from the Negotiating Council on the transition process;

Identified some of the issues concerning constitutional matters which the Negotiating Council must consider. Resolve to instruct the Negotiating Council to consider and report on all matters arising from the consolidated Report, including the following and other Constitutional issues: Form of State and Constitutional Principles Constitution-Making Body/Constituent Assembly Transitional/Interim Constitution Transitional Regional/Local Government Fundamental Human Rights during the Transition Transitional Executive Council, its Sub-Councils, the Independent Elections Committee and the Independent Media Committee

Future of the TBVC States Self-determination

The Negotiating Council shall present reports on progress made on the above issues to the Negotiating Forum.

this meeting of the Negotiating Council:

Notes that the Technical Committee on Violence has submitted its report on the conditions that should be created to eliminate violence in accordance with the 'Declaration of Intent on the Negotiating Process' adopted on 7 May 1993;

Commends the Technical Committee for the comprehensive manner in which it has sought to address this question and the concrete proposals contained in its recommendations;

And hereby resolves that:

1. The National Peace Committee finalise proposed amendments to the Peace Accord as a matter of urgency so as to strengthen the Accord and increase its effectiveness;

2. The signatories to the Peace Accord meet as a matter of urgency to reaffirm their commitment to the Accord and to approve the proposed amendments to it;

3. Non-signatories sign the Peace Accord immediately;

4. Appropriate compulsory sanctions be developed by the Technical Committee on the Independent Election Commission for dealing with parties/administrations/organisations which transgress the Code of Conduct for Political Parties, but refuse to sign the Peace Accord;

5. Any party organising a public demonstration or any other form of mass action must comply with the guidelines set out in paragraph 2.6 of the Fourth Report of the Technical Committee on Violence;

6. The National Peace Committee submit proposed amendments to the Regulation of Gatherings Bill as a matter of urgency;

7. A series of phased confidence-building measures be adopted leading to the creation of impartial, legitimate and effective security forces. A distinction be drawn between statutory and non-statutory armies on the one hand and police forces on the other hand. The Technical Committee of the TEC and its Sub-Councils propose the precise mechanisms to be adopted;

8. Parties between whom conflicts exist, which have contributed to violence, in addition to participating in the MPNP [Multi-Party Negotiating Process], meet bilaterally to seek joint solutions to the conflicts between them;

9. An independent peacekeeping force with a multi-party composition be established and placed under the control of the Independent Electoral Commission or under multi-party executive control;

10. Every party to the MPNP commit itself without reservation to the holding of a free and fair election and to do everything possible to ensure that the electorate and the leaders and candidates of political parties are able to conduct their election campaigns and other political activities freely without being intimidated or obstructed and without fear of being killed;

11. The Technical Committee on Violence prepare detailed proposals on the desirability, financing, establishment and composition of a Peace/Youth Services Corps.

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. Return to theThis resource is hosted by the site.