• Country/entity

  South Africa
  

• Region

  Africa (excl MENA)
  

• Agreement name

  Groot Schuur Minute

• Date

  4 May 1990

• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed

• Interim arrangement

  Yes

• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Post Apartheid South Africa and Namibian Independence (1990 - 1994) )

• Stage

  Pre-negotiation/process

• Conflict nature

  Government

• Peace process

  South Africa peace process

• Parties

  Government of South Africa, ANC

• Third parties

  -

• Description

  The Parties agree to establish working group to define political offences and consider mechanisms for dealing with amnesties and prisoner releases, with a view to facilitating further negotiations between the parties.

• Agreement document

  ZA_900504_Groote Schuur Minute.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

Groote Schuur Minute

Cape Town, 4 May 1990

The government and the African National Congress agree on a common commitment towards the resolution of the existing climate of violence and intimidation from whatever quarter as well as a commitment to stability and to a peaceful process of negotiations.

Flowing from this commitment, the following was agreed upon:

1. The establishment of a working group to make recommendations on a definition of political offences in the South African situation;

to discuss, in this regard, time scales;

and to advise on norms and mechanisms for dealing with the release of political prisoners and the granting of immunity in respect of political offences to those inside and outside South Africa.

All persons who may be affected will be considered.

The working group will bear in mind experiences in Namibia and elsewhere.

The working group will aim to complete its work before 21st May 1990.

It is understood that the South African government, in its discretion, may consider other political parties and movement and other relevant bodies.

The proceedings of the working group will be confidential.

In the meantime the following offences will receive attention immediately:

(a) The leaving of the country without a valid travel document.

(b) Any offences related merely to organisations which were previously prohibited.

2. In addition to the arrangements mentioned in paragraph 1, temporary immunity from prosecution of political offences committed before today, will be considered on an urgent basis for members of the National Executive Committee and selected other members of the ANC from outside the country, to enable them to return and help with the establishment and management of political activities, to assist in bringing violence to an end and to take part in peaceful political negotiations.

The government undertakes to review existing security legislation to bring it into line with the new dynamic situation developing in South Africa in order to ensure normal and free political activities.

The government reiterates its commitment to work towards the lifting of the state of emergency.

In this context, the ANC will exert itself to fulfil the objectives contained in the preamble.

5.

Efficient channels of communication between the government and the ANC will be established in order to curb violence and intimidation from whatever quarter effectively.

The government and the ANC agree that the objectives contained in this minute should be achieved as early as possible.