The SA government presents a promotion of Constitutional Development Bill

Date: 20 Jun 1988
Updated: 19 Jun 2020

The South African government presented a promotion of Constitutional Development Bill which proposed an advisory and consultative council, designed to give blacks a voice in government. This occurred at the twilight of P.W. Botha’s career as both the South Africa and National Party leader. The following year Botha was succeeded by FW de Klerk who shortly after taking office announced his policy of reform. De Klerk hoped to create a suitable climate for negotiations which would end apartheid and bring about a new Constitutional dispensation for South Africa, based on the principle of one person, one vote. In December 1989, de Klerk met with the imprisoned leader of the African National Congress (ANC), Nelson Mandela. On 2 February 1990, de Klerk lifted the ban on the ANC, the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). On 11 February Mandela was released.

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How we know this

01South African history Online, ‘Frederik Willem de Klerk’, from South African History Online, [online], Available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed: 23 May 2013]
02O’Malley, P. ‘1988’, from Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, [online], Available at www.nelsonmandela.org.za [Accessed: 23 May 2013]

Last updated · 19 Jun 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, June 14). The SA government presents a promotion of Constitutional Development Bill. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095901

South African History Online (2013) 'The SA government presents a promotion of Constitutional Development Bill', South African History Online, 14 June. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095901 (Accessed: 28 August 2026).

South African History Online, The SA government presents a promotion of Constitutional Development Bill [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095901, (accessed 28 August 2026).

"The SA government presents a promotion of Constitutional Development Bill." South African History Online, 14 June 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095901. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "The SA government presents a promotion of Constitutional Development Bill." South African History Online. June 14, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095901.