Constitutional Reform – 1996

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Constitutional Reform – 1996

1996

Full Implementation Full implementation

On April 3, 1996, constitutional negotiators resolved the bulk of outstanding issues.1

“The Constitution Bill, providing for a new constitution for South Africa, was read a first time on Wednesday 24th April evening and will now be referred to the Constitutional Committee for amendments to be considered. At the end of the debate, CA Constitutional Assembly chairman Cyril Ramaphosa said he was confident that the outstanding issues would be resolved.”2

The National Assembly adopted the final constitution on May 8, 1996. There were 421 votes in favor. Only two members of the Constituent Assembly voted against the constitution, the two members of the African Christian Democratic Party.3 The Constitutional Court approved the final constitution on December 4,1996. On December 11, 1996, president Mandela sign into law his country’s long-awaited post-apartheid constitution.4

  1. “SOUTH AFRICA; Mandela “pleased” majority of constitution issues resolved,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, April 4, 1996.
  2. “SOUTH AFRICA; Constitution Bill receives first reading,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, April 25, 1996.
  3. “SOUTH AFRICA; South African Constitutional Assembly adopts new constitution,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, May 8, 1996.
  4. “SOUTH AFRICA SIGNS NEW CONSTITUTION,” Courier Mail (Queensland, Australia), December 11, 1996.