Cape Town – Twenty years ago, Nelson Mandela signed the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa marking a milestone in transforming the country from its apartheid past to a constitutional democracy.
Some of the people who served in various capacities during the drafting of what is now hailed as a world-leading constitution, gathered in Cape Town on Friday to discuss the obstacles encountered and some of the light moments they enjoyed in the drafting process.
Sheila Camerer, who was a member of a working group of the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa), said one of the moments that stood out for her in the country’s transition phase was when the National Peace Accord was signed without the involvement of a single woman.
She cited activists such as former speaker of Parliament Frene Ginwala as one of those who stood up for the rights of women within a hostile political environment.
She said it was because women presented a united front that basic rights of women were taken into consideration during the drafting of the constitution.
“Today we have rights on paper, we have institutions that protect those rights but realising the rights is still a problem,” Camerer said adding that it was a big mistake and a setback to women’s rights to disband Sexual Offences police units and specialised courts.
Former Constitutional Court Judge Albie Sachs, who played an active role in the negotiations between the National Party government and the ANC, said South Africa today is much better than what it used to be.
“It is not fair and accurate to say there has been no change,” Sachs said.
He mentioned that protest action and questioning those who were involved in the negotiation process as “sell-outs” was incorrect.
Sachs said the constitution was born out of a genuine process and had “Oliver Tambo’s DNA”.
“The whites in South Africa were too selfish and self-centred to think that living together was possible,” Sachs said.
Minister of Economic Development Ebrahim Patel said much had been achieved in the 20 years since the constitution was signed. He said the economy was now 70percent bigger than it was in 1996; jobs were 80percent more than in 1996 and more Africans had access to education now than they did in 1996.
Other speakers were Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions Willie Hofmeyr, former DA leader Tony Leon and FF Plus MP Corne Mulder.