South Africa’s new constitution is approved

Date: 8 May 1996
Updated: 5 May 2020

South Africa’s new constitution is approved

The adoption of the South African Constitution on 8 May 1996 was one of the turning points in the history of the struggle for democracy in South Africa. The Constitution is considered by many as one of the most advanced in the world, with a Bill of Rights second to none. South Africa's Constitution was drafted by an all-inclusive constitutive assembly, which had representatives from all the major political parties and liberation organisations. The constitutional assembly sat between May 1994 and October 1996 drafting and completing the new constitution. The new Constitution was the embodiment of the vision of generations of anti-apartheid freedom fighters and democrats who had fought for the principle that South African belonged to all, for non racialism and for human rights.

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?

How we know this

01Kalley, J.A.; Schoeman, E. & Andor, L.E. (eds)(1999). Southern African Political History: a chronology of key political events from independence to mid-1997, Westport: Greenwood.

Last updated · 5 May 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). South Africa’s new constitution is approved. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013259

South African History Online (2011) 'South Africa’s new constitution is approved', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013259 (Accessed: 28 August 2026).

South African History Online, South Africa’s new constitution is approved [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013259, (accessed 28 August 2026).

"South Africa’s new constitution is approved." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013259. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "South Africa’s new constitution is approved." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013259.