The impact of the CODESA talks on the socio-economic rights of the majority of South Africans

Abstract

Current issues concerning socio-economic challenges faced by the majority of South Africans are attributed to the former apartheid regime and its inequality policies between black and white citizens. Salient to the Convention for a Democratic South Africa talks was the centralisation of the negotiations on the political transition from the old apartheid regime to a democratic dispensation at the expense of socio-economic discussions. It is for this reason that this research study examined the historical background leading up to the Convention for a Democratic South Africa talks and the impact of the former liberation movements in the attainment of peace and stability in South Africa. The research study also examines socio-economic rights from the South African perspective and further analyse how these rights ought to be fulfilled and enforced by the courts. Further examination is on the transitional justice system towards the constitutional reforms and also on the failure by the prosecuting authorities to prosecute the perpetrators of apartheid atrocities. Comparatively, this research study focus on Zimbabwe’s political climate leading up to the 2008 elections and ultimately how the transitional phase negotiations overlooked the socio-economic rights. Towards the end, this research study focused on the proposed peace framework which must include the socio-economic rights towards a new transitional period.