Speech at the Opening of the Parliament of South Africa, 1990

[7] In 1984, South Africa introduced a new constitution establishing a Tricameral Parliament with representation for Coloureds and Indians as well as whites and making the role of State President an executive post.P. W. Botha of the National Party was the first to hold it but he resigned in 1989 following a stroke, after which he was "effectively forced out of office by cabinet ministers regarded as less intractable about talking with ANC" and its supporters.[2] Upon winning the 1989 South African general election, de Klerk started to loosen restrictions on peaceful protest marches and released political prisoners such as Thabo Mbeki.After discussing economic issues, de Klerk announced the unbanning of the ANC, the Pan Africanist Congress, the South African Communist Party and a number of their associated ancillary groups.The President of the United States George H. W. Bush responded positively to the news but needed to hear more before he would lift American sanctions on South Africa.
South African Houses of ParliamentCape TownSouth AfricaF. W. de KlerkState President of South AfricaF. W. de KlerkParliament of South Africanegotiated transitionapartheidconstitutional democracyAfrican National Congresspolitical prisonersNelson Mandelastate of emergencydeath penaltyNational PartySouth African Policea new constitutionTricameral ParliamentColouredsIndiansState PresidentP. W. BothaPik BothaBarend du Plessis1989 South African general electionThabo MbekiBritish Prime MinisterMargaret ThatcherPan Africanist CongressSouth African Communist PartyConservative PartyKoos van der MerweAfrikanerPretoriaDesmond TutuWinniePresident of the United StatesGeorge H. W. Bushwhites only referenduminterim constitution1994 South African general electionRubicon speechI Am an AfricanThe Guardian