A Second Plenary session of Multi Party negotiations for a transition to democracy in South Africa reconvene

Date: 15 May 1992
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

A Second Plenary session of Multi Party negotiations for a transition to democracy in South Africa reconvene

The second plenary session of the Congress for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA II) was convened in Johannesburg. Unlike the first session CODESA II ended in a deadlock as parties involved could not agree on an interim government and a constitution. The first sitting, CODESA I in March 1992 laid an important foundation for future multi party talks in South Africa, including the setting of a date to finalise outstanding issues, but was delayed for two months. The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) refused to attend the CODESA II in protest against what it perceived as undermining Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini's traditional role as political leader. Less than a month later ANC President, Nelson Mandela announced that he was suspending all talks with the Government in the wake of a massacre in Boipatong on 17 June when more than 40 were killed, and scores injured. It is believed that most of them were supporters of the ANC.

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How we know this

01Reddy E.S ‘United Nations and Apartheid ”“ A chronology’, contributed documents by Reddy E.S.
02South African History Online, ‘Timeline: United Nations and Apartheid 1946 ”“ 1994’, [online], available at www.sahistory.org.za (Accessed: 16 April 2012)
03South African History Online, ‘CODESA II Talks end in deadlock’, [online], available at www.sahistory.org.za (Accessed: 16 April 2012)

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, May 9). A Second Plenary session of Multi Party negotiations for a transition to democracy in South Africa reconvene. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0082948

South African History Online (2012) 'A Second Plenary session of Multi Party negotiations for a transition to democracy in South Africa reconvene', South African History Online, 9 May. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0082948 (Accessed: 25 July 2026).

South African History Online, A Second Plenary session of Multi Party negotiations for a transition to democracy in South Africa reconvene [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0082948, (accessed 25 July 2026).

"A Second Plenary session of Multi Party negotiations for a transition to democracy in South Africa reconvene." South African History Online, 9 May 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0082948. Accessed 25 July 2026.

South African History Online. "A Second Plenary session of Multi Party negotiations for a transition to democracy in South Africa reconvene." South African History Online. May 9, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0082948.