This essay will discuss how the period of 1990-1994 consisted of
intense negotiations, violence, compromise and finally a
settlement between political role players. The apartheid policy in
South Africa left the non-white South Africans oppressed.
Firstly, a transformation had to happen that would involve black
people in the political process. After being appointed new
president, De Klerk began the process of transformation. He
would have to delicately dismantle apartheid to include non-
whites to achieve a democratic country. He announced the
unbanning of anti-apartheid political organisations like the
African National Congress (ANC), Pan Africanist Congress (PAN)
and the South African Communist Party (SACP). Next, he would
ensure the release of all political prisoners from Robben Island
and other holding facilities. These prisoners would also have free
access to medical and legal services as a compensation as many
were tortured in detention. To abolish racial propaganda, he
lifted media censorship that was previously biased towards
whites. Educational bodies such as the United Democratic Front
(UDF) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
were now able to freely operate. However, the biggest of all
these transformations was the unconditional release of Nelson
Mandela. This highlights how the period of 1990-1994 consisted
of intense negotiations, violence, compromise and finally a
settlement between political role players.
Secondly, the Groote Schuur Minute and the Pretoria Minute were
important meetings where political leaders agreed on following
through with the process of negotiations and how the country
would move forward. The Groote Schuur took place on 2 May
1990 to get the ANC and NP together to firstly establish a
working group and secondly for them to establish to define
political offences, efficient lines of communication to prevent any
conflict between the 2 parties. Its purpose was also to provide
temporary immunity to exiles to revive existing security
legislation. On 6 August 1990 at the Pretoria Minute ANC
disclosed that they would suspend their armed struggle and the
NP responded that its police force would be restructured. This
meeting forged temporary peace between the 2 parties. This
highlights how the period of 1990-1994 consisted of intense
negotiations, violence, compromise and finally a settlement
between political role players.
Furthermore, another big negotiation took place on 20 December
1991. The ANC and NP continued working together with the
objective of a democratic country. The Convention for a
Democratic South Africa (CODESA) took place where 19 major
intense negotiations, violence, compromise and finally a
settlement between political role players. The apartheid policy in
South Africa left the non-white South Africans oppressed.
Firstly, a transformation had to happen that would involve black
people in the political process. After being appointed new
president, De Klerk began the process of transformation. He
would have to delicately dismantle apartheid to include non-
whites to achieve a democratic country. He announced the
unbanning of anti-apartheid political organisations like the
African National Congress (ANC), Pan Africanist Congress (PAN)
and the South African Communist Party (SACP). Next, he would
ensure the release of all political prisoners from Robben Island
and other holding facilities. These prisoners would also have free
access to medical and legal services as a compensation as many
were tortured in detention. To abolish racial propaganda, he
lifted media censorship that was previously biased towards
whites. Educational bodies such as the United Democratic Front
(UDF) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
were now able to freely operate. However, the biggest of all
these transformations was the unconditional release of Nelson
Mandela. This highlights how the period of 1990-1994 consisted
of intense negotiations, violence, compromise and finally a
settlement between political role players.
Secondly, the Groote Schuur Minute and the Pretoria Minute were
important meetings where political leaders agreed on following
through with the process of negotiations and how the country
would move forward. The Groote Schuur took place on 2 May
1990 to get the ANC and NP together to firstly establish a
working group and secondly for them to establish to define
political offences, efficient lines of communication to prevent any
conflict between the 2 parties. Its purpose was also to provide
temporary immunity to exiles to revive existing security
legislation. On 6 August 1990 at the Pretoria Minute ANC
disclosed that they would suspend their armed struggle and the
NP responded that its police force would be restructured. This
meeting forged temporary peace between the 2 parties. This
highlights how the period of 1990-1994 consisted of intense
negotiations, violence, compromise and finally a settlement
between political role players.
Furthermore, another big negotiation took place on 20 December
1991. The ANC and NP continued working together with the
objective of a democratic country. The Convention for a
Democratic South Africa (CODESA) took place where 19 major
