MK holds its first conference inside South Africa

Facing an ANC ultimatum, the president proposed including Black opposition figures in government and amending repressive laws.

A central pillar of apartheid racial classification was removed, though the structures and inequalities built upon it remained.

Delegates rebuilt the legal mass organization and prepared it for negotiations and electoral politics.

Mandela succeeded Oliver Tambo, while Walter Sisulu became deputy president and Cyril Ramaphosa secretary-general.

After revelations of secret state funding for Inkatha, the ANC called for ministers to resign and covert counter-insurgency structures to be dismantled.

Parties, unions, religious bodies and civic organizations agreed to codes of conduct and monitoring mechanisms intended to reduce political violence.

Dozens of anti-apartheid organizations called for an elected constituent assembly and an interim government to manage the transition.

Nineteen organizations approved an agenda and arrangements for an inclusive convention on constitutional principles and transitional government.

Political organizations and international observers gathered for the first broad multiparty constitutional convention.

Most participating parties committed themselves to democracy, constitutional government and a peaceful transition.