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Powersharing Transitional Government: Interim Constitution Accord

Implementations

Powersharing Transitional Government – 1993

After signing the main peace accord, on December 23, 1991, South African President De Klerk proposed immediate negotiations on the interim government. The proposal was consistent with the ANC demand for an interim government.¹ However, other political parties perceived the formation of the interim government as the ANC’s strategy to gain access to more power than it had gained through consensus.²

On February 11, 1992, the ANC proposed that an interim government council with legislative and executive powers be appointed by CODESA to oversee the transitional period. The ANC proposed two possibilities:
”Either the interim government council continues to function in the agreed manner until the constituent assembly has completed its work and a new parliament is in place, or the constituent assembly is vested with sovereign powers so that it functions both as a constituent assembly and as a legislature until the new constitution has been adopted.” In its proposal, the ANC was concerned that the constituent assembly should not be diverted from or in any way hindered in achieving its primary purpose, which was to adopt a new constitution.³ The Government of National Unity did not materialize in 1992.

“The State President, Mr F.W. de Klerk, said on Thursday (29th April, 1993) he would not abdicate and would hand over power only to a government of national unity after a general election.”⁴

“South Africa De Klerk proposes negotiations ”immediately” on interim government,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, December 23, 1991.
“SOUTH AFRICA IN BRIEF; HNP leader tells De Klerk interim government would mean ANC Rule,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, January 11, 1992.
“SOUTH AFRICA ANC MAKES PROPOSALS ON INTERIM GOVERNMENT; CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, February 13, 1992.
“SOUTH AFRICA; President de Klerk will only hand over power to government of national unity,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, May 1, 1993.

Powersharing Transitional Government – 1994

The election for the constituent assembly took place in April 1994. The Government of National Unity, a constitutionally defined multi-party government, came into existence on 27 April 1994, after the 1994 elections. The 1993 constitution had provisions for the government of national unity. A party holding 20 or more seats in the parliament was entitled to receive one or more of the cabinet portfolios. Six ministers from the National Party were appointed in the cabinet, including former State President Mr. de Klerk, who was appointed as second Deputy President.¹ The Inkatha Freedom Party also shared the cabinet portfolio.

“A look at those who also serve in Mandela’s South Africa,” The Age (Melbourne, Australia), May 14, 1994.

Powersharing Transitional Government – 1995

Power-sharing continued under the National Unity Government provisions of the 1993 interim constitution. It was expected to last until 1999.

Powersharing Transitional Government – 1996

Power-sharing continued under the National Unity Government provisions of the 1993 interim constitution. It was expected to last until 1999. Nevertheless, once the National Assembly adopted the final constitution on May 8, 1996, the National Party announced its withdraw from the government of national unity by the end of June 1996.¹ The the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Azanian People’s Organisation hold seats in the government.

Power-sharing under the National Unity Government provisions of the 1993 interim constitution ended in 1996.

“South Africa,” Keesing’s Record of World Events (formerly Keesing’s Contemporary Archives) (Volume 42), 1996, 41078.