CLOSE WINDOW
Document 22 - CODESA I - Declaration of Intent
21 December 1991
We, the duly authorised representatives of political parties, political
organisations, administrations and the South African Government,
coming together at this first meeting of the Convention for a
Democratic South Africa (CODESA), mindful of the awesome responsibility
that rests on us at this moment in the history of our country,
declare our solemn commitment:
1. to bring about an undivided South Africa with one nation sharing
a common citizenship, patriotism and loyalty, pursuing amidst our
diversity, freedom, equality and security for all irrespective
of race, colour, sex or creed; a country free from apartheid or
any other form of discrimination or domination;
2. to work to heal the divisions of the past, to secure the advancement
of all, and to establish a free and open society based on democratic
values where the dignity, worth and rights of every South African
are protected by law;
3. to strive to improve the quality of life of our people through
policies that will promote economic growth and human development
and ensure equal opportunities and social justice for all South
Africans;
4. to create a climate conducive to peaceful constitutional change
by eliminating violence, intimidation and destabilisation and by
promoting free political participation, discussion and debate;
5. to set in motion the process of drawing up and establishing
a constitution that will ensure, inter alia:
(a) that South Africa will be a united, democratic, non-racial
and non-sexist state in which sovereign authority is exercised
over the whole of its territory
(b) that the Constitution will be the supreme law and that it will
be guarded over by an independent, non-racial and impartial judiciary;
(c) that there will be a multi-party democracy with the right to
form and join political parties and with regular elections on the
basis of universal adult suffrage on a common voters roll; in general
the basic electoral system, shall be that of proportional representation;
(d) that there shall be a separation of powers between the legislature,
executive and judiciary with appropriate checks and balances;
(e) that the diversity of languages, cultures and religions of
the people of South Africa shall be acknowledged;
(f) that all shall enjoy universally accepted human rights, freedoms
and civil liberties including freedom of religion, speech and assembly
protected by an entrenched and justiciable Bill of Rights and a
legal system that guarantees equality of all before the law.
WE AGREE
1. that the present and future participants shall be entitled
to put forward freely to the Convention any proposal consistent
with democracy.
2. that CODESA will establish a mechanism whose task it will be,
in co-operation with administrations and the South African Government,
to draft the texts of all legislation required to give effect to
the agreements reached in CODESA.
We, the representatives of political parties, political organisations
and administrations, further solemnly commit ourselves to be bound
by the agreements of CODESA and in good faith to take all such
steps as are within our power and authority to realise implementation.
SIGNED BY:
African
National Congress National Party
Ciskei Government National People’s Party
Democratic
Party Solidarity
Dikwenkwentla Party South African Communist Party
Inyanda National Movement Transkei Government
Intando Yesizwe party United People’s Front
Labour Party South Africa Venda Government
Natal/Transvaal Indian Congress Ximoko Progressive Party
We, the South African Government, declare ourselves to be bound
by agreements we reach together with other participants in CODESA
in accordance with the standing rules and hereby commit ourselves
to the implementation thereof within our capacity, powers and
authority.
Signed by Mr F.
W. de Klerk for the South African Government Nkosi
Sikelel' iAfrica. Ons vir jou Suid-Afrika. Morena boloka sechaba
sa heso. May the Lord bless our country. Mudzimu. Fhatushedza
Africa. Hosi katekisa Africa.
CLOSE WINDOW