NP presents its revised constitutional proposals

The National Party (NP) government put its revised constitutional proposals on the table during the Convention for Democratic South Africa (CODESA) discussions. The proposals were based on a NP two-phase plan of transition. It suggested the appointment of multiparty transitional councils by CODESA during the first phase to oversee regional and local government, finance, and multiracial elections with the ultimate responsibilities entrusted to the government. The second phase proposed elections for a transitional administration, which would remain in power for ten years. This phase would include a multi-person presidency and a constitution-drafting parliament. All participants in CODESA except the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) objected to the government proposals. Though the African National Congress (ANC) accepted the plan for the constitution to be drafted by an elected body, it rejected the part of the proposals that made the government to assume both player and referee role during the first phase of the transition. The ANC further rejected the government proposal that it dismantle its armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, before a full transitional government was in place