South Africa Constitution Adoption

Members of both houses of the South African Parliament met in a constitutional assembly to debate the adoption of a permanent constitution to replace the provisional document under which the government has operated since April 1994. The document creates a bicameral legislature, with a lower House elected by proportional representation and an Upper House elected by provincial legislatures, and a president, who will be limited to two five-year terms. Difficult issues during the previous discussions included the possibilities for members of minority parties in the new cabinet and government compensation to landowners for property expropriation. The body approved the constitution by a 421 to 2 vote. Parts of the debate were conducted in languages other than English. close