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Legislative Branch Reform: Interim Constitution Accord

Implementations

Legislative Branch Reform – 1993

In the CODESA (Convention for a Democratic South Africa) Record of Understanding signed on September 36, 1992, the parties agreed, “that there shall be a separation of powers between the legislature, executive and judiciary with appropriate checks and balances,” which sought to bring reform to the legislative branch of the government.

The Interim Constitution was signed on November 17, 1993. The white-dominated Parliament voted to approve a new democratic constitution on December 22, 1993. The vote tally was 247 to 45.¹ Chapter 4 of the interim constitution dealt with the legislative branch of the government.

“South Africa gets democratic constitution Parliamentarians of all races approve non-racial law while Afrikaners hold out for whites-only concessions,” The Globe and Mail (Canada), December 23, 1993.

Legislative Branch Reform – 1994

The Constituent Assembly election took place in April 1994. The National Assembly also worked as a constituent body and drafted a new constitution as provided for in the interim constitution of 1993.

Legislative Branch Reform – 1995

No developments observed this year.

Legislative Branch Reform – 1996

Legislative reforms were carried over into the new constitution in 1996. The National Assembly adopted the final constitution on May 8, 1996. The Constitutional Court (CC) approved the final constitution on December 4, 1996. The constitution establishes a bicameral legislature. According to the constitution, the parliament consists of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.