The Transition

This section contains key documents relating to the transition period from the late 1980s to 1994 that saw the transformation of South Africa from an apartheid society to a new democratic dispensation.

See also: ANC Press Statements Archive for this period

1986 - 1989

Joint communiqués of meetings between the ANC and other South African organisations, 1986-1989
ANC Statement on Negotiations, 9 October 1987
Arusha Declaration. Declaration Adopted at the Conference "Peoples of the World Against Apartheid for a Democratic South Africa", Arusha, 1-4 December 1987
New York Agreement. Agreement between Angola, Cuba, South Africa and United States for a peaceful solution in south-western Africa, July 1988
Geneva Agreement, August 1988
'The Mandela Document' - document prepared by Nelson Mandela for meeting with P W Botha, 5 July 1989
Harare Declaration - Declaration of the OAU Ad-hoc Committee on Southern Africa on the Question of South Africa; Harare, Zimbabwe, 21 August 1989
'A Document to Create a Climate of Understanding' - document prepared by Nelson Mandela for meeting with F W de Klerk, 12 December 1989

1990

Groote Schuur & Pretoria Minutes / DF Malan Accord
Opening Statement of the Deputy President of the ANC, Nelson Mandela, at the meeting with President F.W. de Klerk on the situation in Natal, Pretoria, 11 September
- Memorandum A
"The Kairos Document". Violence - The New Kairos, Published by the Institute for Contextual Theology, September

1991

Suspension of the Armed Struggle: ANC and Government Delegations Meet. ANC Press Statement, 15 February
"A Cry for Peace". ANC Advert in the Sowetan, 15 April
National Peace Accord. Adopted 14 September
Commonwealth Strategy in Support of a Negotiated Settlement in South Africa: Statement Adopted by the Commonwealth Committee of Foreign Ministers on Southern Africa, 14 September

Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA)

Statement by the Joint Chairmen of the Preparatory meeting - 30 November

Declaration of Intent - December

Opening Address by Chief Justice Corbett - 20 December

Opening remarks of Justice Ismail Mahomed Co-Chairperson - 20 December

Opening Statements by:

Chris Hani - SACP

Zach de Beer - Democratic Party

Dawie de Villiers - National Party

Nelson Mandela - ANC

FW de Klerk - State President

Response by Nelson Mandela to FW de Klerk's opening speech

1992

Goldstone Commission : Interim Report on Mooi River violence - 19 February
Memorandum Presented by Nelson Mandela to President F W de Klerk, 26 June
- Annexure A
Response from FW de Klerk to Nelson Mandela's memorandum of 26 June 1992, 2 July
Response by Nelson Mandela to President F W de Klerk's Memorandum, 4 July
Letter from Nelson Mandela to F W de Klerk, 9 July
Letter from FW de Klerk to Nelson Mandela, 16 September
- Reply by Nelson Mandela to letter from FW de Klerk, 16 September
Letter from FW de Klerk to Nelson Mandela, 24 September
- Reply by Nelson Mandela to letter from FW de Klerk, 24 September
Record of Understanding Between ANC and Government - 26 September
Negotiations - A Strategic Perspective - Adopted by ANC NWC, 18 November
Statement by President F.W. De Klerk on the Timetable for Further Constitutional Reform, 26 November
Background Paper: Annexure to the Statement by State President F.W. de Klerk on the Timetable for Further Constitutional Reform, 26 November
Final Communiqué of the Summit of the Frontline Heads of State and Government, Harare, 11 December 1992

1993

Joint Media Statement by the SA Government Delegation and the African National Congress Delegation after a Bilateral Between Them, 26 January
Goldstone Commission : Events at the World Trade Centre June 1993 - 13 July
Goldstone Commission : Report on Illegal Weapons - 5 October
Goldstone Commission : Incidents of Violence at Mossel Bay, July 1993 - 12 October
Goldstone Commission : Report on Violence at Crossroads Camp 1993 - 22 October
Goldstone Commission : Report on the Investigation Units Of The Commission - 26 November

1994

1995-6

ANC Constitution News

Last modified: 03 February 2001