South African History Online

20 December 1991

Chief Justice and Joint Chairpersons;
Leaders of Political Parties and
Movements;
Distinguished Observers from International
Organisations;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Venerable Traditional and
Religions Leaders of our People;
Comrades and Friends;
Last but not least-
People of South Africa:

Today will be indelibly imprinted in the history of our country. If we, who
are gathered here respond to the challenge before us, today will mark the
commencement of the transition from apartheid to democracy. Our people, from
every corner of our country, have expressed their yearning for democracy and
peace. CODESA represents the historical opportunity to translate that yearning
into reality.

For eighty years, the ANC has led the struggle for democracy in South Africa.
Along the route traversed during this period, many sacrifices were made by
thousands upon thousands of our people. In the arduous battle between the people
and oppression, positions hardened and polarisation developed between the people
and the state. Even when, in the absence of any other recourse, the ANC took up
arms, our objective was to secure a political settlement in South Africa. In the
past few years an environment more conducive to establishing mutual trust has
been established.

South Africans of many persuasions recognise that this environment, and its
constitutional product, CODESA, is the fruit of their sacrifices and struggle.
They have a justifiable expectation that CODESA will set our country on the road
to democracy.

Inasmuch as apartheid has been declared a crime against humanity and the
problems of our country have engaged so much of the attention of the
international community over decades, the presence of esteemed observers from
the key international organisations as guests of CODESA is most appropriate.

We welcome the guests from the United Nations Organisations; the Organisation
of African Unity; the Commonwealth; the European Economic Community and the
Non-Aligned Movement. We trust that they will avail to the process now
unfolding, their wisdom, insights and experience gained in many similar
initiatives across the world.

All South Africans share the hope and vision of a land free of apartheid,
where internal strife will have no place.

The ANC initiated the search for peace in our country. Since 1987 the ANC has
intensively campaigned for an negotiated transfer of power. This campaign
reached new heights in 1989 when the OAU, the Non-Aligned Movement and the UN
General Assemble all adopted declarations supporting the position. All three
declarations stated:

"...that where colonial, racial and apartheid domination exists, there can
be neither peace nor justice."

In keeping with this spirit, CODESA must therefore lay the basis for the
elimination of racial and apartheid domination.

It is only by decisive action in this regard that South Africa will be
granted entry to the community of nations as a full member.

The strength of the CODESA initiative lies in the range of political parties
and persuasions represented here. The presence of so many parties augurs well
for the future. The diverse interests represented, speak of the capacity to
develop consensus across the spectrum and of the desire to maximise common
purpose amongst South African. Many parties here have already invested so much
by way of preparing their constituencies for transformation. Above all else, the
investment already made must spur us on to total commitment for the successful
outcome of this convention.

Ons betrueur die feit dat daar nog partye is wat hulself uit hierdie
belangrike proses uitsluit. Na Kodesa is die situasie in ons land onomkeerbaar.
Die dreigemente met burgeroorlog is onvervantwoordelik en total
onaanvaarbaar

Die tyd vir sulke praatjies is lankal verby. As hulle hierdie dreigemente
uitvoer sal die wereld sien dat hulle die lyding van alle Suid Afrikaaners will
verleng, en die soeke na vrede in ons land wil verpes.

Maar een ding staan vas: die proses tot egte demokrasie is onstuitbaar. Die
geskiedenis bied vir ons almal 'n unieke geleentheid. Om hierdie geleentheid vir
die lensiesop van lee, negatiewe bravado ter verkwansel, is om die toekoms to
ontken. Ons doen steed 'n beroep op sulke partye om nou, selfs in hierdie laat
stadium, by Kodesa aan te sluit.

Die boodskaap van die ANC deur Kodesa is eenvoudig, duidelik, en vir alle
Suid Afrikaners, die tyd vir een in Suid Afrika, een volk, stem, een toekoms, is
daar.

The National Convention in 1909 was a gathering of Whites representing the
four British colonies, It was also a betrayal of Black people and a denial of
democracy. The act of union entrenched colonial practises and institutions
constitutionally. In its wake, our country has lived through eight decades of
wasted opportunity. CODESA provides the first opportunity since to attempt to
establish democracy in our country.

It is imperative that we also reach consensus on the definition of democracy.
From the ANC's perspective, democracy entails:

• That all Governments must derive their authority from the consent of the
  governed;
• No person or groups of persons shall be subjected to oppression,
  domination or discrimination by virtue of their race, gender, ethnic origin,
  colour or creed;
• All persons should enjoy the right to life,
• all persons should enjoy security in their persons and should be entitled
  to the peaceful enjoyment of their possessions, including the right to
  acquire, own or dispose of property, without distinction based on race,
  colour, language, gender or creed;
• All persons should have the right and express whatever opinions they wish
  subscribe to, provided that in the exercise of that right they do not infringe
  on the right of others.

This quality of democracy will indeed only be possible when those have the
brunt of apartheid oppression exercise their right to vote in a free and fair
election on the basis of universal suffrage. We can see no reason why an
election for a Constituent Assembly should not be possible during 1992.

Ngesikhathi isimo sengcinezelo sidinga kuzatyalazwee uANC akazange ahlehlele
emuva kodwa wakhomba umhlalandlela. Manje ngoba isimo seesiyavuma yiyona futhi
iANC ehamba phambili ekuletheni uxolo kuleli lokhokho.

A kukhona abantu abadinga inkululeko e South Africa abantu abamnyama
bayadinga manje ngoba isimo sabo somnotho nehlalanhle siya siba sibi ngentsuku
zonke.

Ilungelo lokuvota iyona nto ewumongo womzabalazo we nkululeko.

U 1992 unyaka wamanqqamu okufanele uluthe ukhetho lokuqala lwentando eningi
eSouth Africa.

CODESA, on its own, will not deliver democracy. In recorrding this fact,
there is no attempt to demean CODESA. Even absolute consensus during the life of
CODESA will still leave an apartheid constitution in place. We need to reminded
that this very constitution was declared null and void by the Un Security
Council in 1983.

The invalidation of the prevailing constitution is the most persuasive
argument in support of the view that the incumbent government is unsuited to the
task of overseeing the transition to democracy must now compel it to make way
for an interim government of national unity to supervise the transition.

This is the only cogent outflow from our deliberations at CODESA. The
consensus which we arrive at will certainly have far-reaching implications for
the birth of a new nationhood. None of us could be satisfied with circumstances
where the consensus struck at this is not translated into full legal force.

An interim government, important as it may be, is but the product of
agreement between ourselves as political parties and organisations. It will not
be the outcome of full participation by the people of our country. Negotiations,
to bee successful, must be owned and supported by the majority of South
Africans.

In the absence of full participation, we must commit ourselves to open
negotiations to ensure that nations of secret deals do not arise. This process
will also hinge on the confidence by each participating party that the
communication of developments be absolutely non-partisan. Consideration
therefore needs to be given immediate establishment of the necessary mechanisms
to ensure that the state-controlled media accurately and fairlky represents the
views of all participants. The means of establishing an interim government will
not be participatory.

Therefore the consensus at CODESA should curtail both its mandate and its
lifespan.

The ANC remains fully committed to the installation of a government which can
justly claim authority because it is based on the will of the people. This
reality will have to be underpinned by a constitution which both engenders
respect and enjoys legitimacy. There is a compelling urgency about task. It is
inconceivable that such a democratic constitution could be reached in any way
but through the portals of an elected constitution-making body, namely a
Constituent Assembly

It is tragic that our country, so well endowed with natural resources has
been reduced to an economic wasteland by the system of apartheid, based on greed
and mismanagement. It is also distressing to note that the deplorable violence
has reached such alarming proportions, and others threaten still more. These
features are a direct consequence of the determination of a minority to maintain
the power and privilege accrued by apartheid. There are large parts of our
country where free political activity is still not possible, where law and order
is still ruled by the jackboot and a large number of political prisoners remain
incarcerated. In the spirit of our Convention we call upon the government to
proclaim and immediate CODESA amnesty before Christmas for all remaining
political prisoners throughout the country.

Nothing could be more irresponsible than for those of us gathered here to
deny our people the right to peace and freedom of association and deny our
country its due economic growth.

As everybody here is aware, the ANC and the government have been involved in
bilateral discussions since May last year. There are still some matters dealt
with in these bilateral talks which have been finalised. We will continue these
discussions, among other things, seeking to resolve the question of the control
of armed formations in the country, including Umkhonto We Sizwe. 

We can only reverse the correct situation if we set our sights on
establishing true democracy. The national interest is far, far more important
than the sectional interests represented by any party here. Everybody wants a
place in the sun of a post-apartheid South Africa. No delegation here could
possibly have been mandated by its constituency, however small, to attend Codes
in order to annihilate itself.

Recognising this, however we want to make a strong appeal to everybody
present to place the compelling national concerns above narrow sectional
interests.

History will judge us extremely harshly if we fail to turn the opportunity,
which it now presents us with, common good. The risks of further pain and
affliction arising from violence,homelessness, unemployment of gutter education,
are immense. No approach which we adopt at CODESA must be fundamental inclusive.
The price of CODESA's failure will be far to great.

We must not trample on the confidence which our people have in the successful
conclusion to these negotiations. It would be foolhardy to spurn the world for
its efforts in assisting to secure peace and prosperity for South Africa. Our
people and the world expect anon-racial, non-sexist democracy to emerge from the
negotiations on which we are about to embark.

Failure of CODESA is inconceivable, so too is consensus without legal force.
There is absolutely no room for error or obstinacy. The challenge which CODESA
places before each one of us is to unshackle ourselves from the e past and build
anew.

CODESA can be the beginning of reconstruction. Let our common commitment to
the future or our country inspire us to build a South Africa of which we can all
be truly proud.

Translation of the Afrikaans text from Nelson Mandela's
Speech

We regret the fact that there are still parities who exclude themselves from
this important process. After CODESA the situation in our country is
irreversible. Threats about civil war is irresponsible and totally unacceptable.
The time for such talk is long past. If they execute these the world will see
that they are prolonging the suffering of all South Africans, and poison the
search for peace in our country.

But one thing stands fast: The process of moving towards democracy is
unstoppable. History grants all of us a unique opportunity. To exchange this
opportunity for a bowl of lentil soup of the past, and negative bravado, is to
deny the future. We continue to call on such parties to join CODESA now, even at
this late stage.

The message of the ANC through CODESA is straight forward, clear, and for all
South Africans; the time for one South Africa , one nation, one vote, one future
is here.

Translation of the Zulu Text in Nelson Mandela's Speech

When oppression necessitated a struggle in South Africa the ANC never
retreated but was in the vanguard. Now that the situation is conducive it is the
ANC again that leads the way in the effort to bring peace to the land of our
ancestors.

Of there are people who need freedom in South Africa it is the Black people.
They need it now because their economic and welfare situation deteriorates
daily.

The right to vote is the essence of the struggle for freedom. 1992 is the
year that must bring the first democratic elections in South
Africa.