Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA)
Welcome to the Committee Page for the Convention for a Democratic South Africa! Here, you can find details on the committee and the students who are chairing it, download the background guide, and learn about suggested primary source reading for the committee. Check the page regularly for committee updates.
Committee Dais
Chair: Sarah BrovmanVice Chair: Jasmine Senior
Crisis Director:
Contact Email: codesa@cmunce.org
Recent Updates
[November 15, 2008]: The Background guide has been posted.
[May 2008]: Welcome to the Convention for a Democratic South Africa webpage. Keep your eyes peeled to this site in the coming month for updates.
Committee Description
In this historical simulation of the transition post apartheid government in South Africa, at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) plenary session in 1991, political parties from all parts of South Africa will begin talks to stabilize South Africa while creating a new ruling power. Political parties participating; include but are not limited to, traditional African tribal parties, formally banned opposition parties, and the traditional political parties. South Africa is coming out of years of war between White and Black Africans and is essentially without an effective government and leadership. The meeting of CODESA takes place directly after Nelson Mandela's release from prison and marks the beginning of peace talks between political parties. Many questions will arise within the plenary session of the convention; South Africa has essentially been in a civil war from 1960; however, the true oppressive nature of the White Government has silenced much of it. Now in 1991, the traditional government is in peace talks with the oppressed people. There are 19 political parties present at CODESA and each party will have a different perspective and issue with the end of segregation, what sorts of circumstances will each require in order to bring the country to peace? Some questions that will arise include; will South Africa face a Mandela led revolution? What sort of Government does South Africa need? With economic sanctions currently in place by other countries, what must South Africa do to become economically stable? More importantly, what are the true values we must work towards as a country? Where will public opinion affect the peace talks? These are all questions that will arise in the convention, as well as figuring out shifts in life for the citizens, most importantly remembering all of all the human rights violations and how they need to be corrected. We must act quickly to avoid more war and casualty. Every minute wasted will cause problems for South Africa as a whole within the world, with the AU watching CODESA's every move, it is important that we take deliberate steps to creating and maintaining peace and creating an infrastructure for a stable South Africa.
Background Guide
Recommended Resources and Documents