CIVICS CHAPTER - 3

Constitutional Design

• Constitution set guideline for functioning of government.
• Constitution is the supreme law, determined relationship among people and government.
• The constitution of France is the product of political revolution.
• British constitution represents gradual evolution of many centuries.
• Here we find out constitution of South Africa and Indian were designed.
• Democracy in South Africa struggled a lot to establish democratic government.
• Apartheid refers to system of racial - discrimination, prevalent in South Africa imposed by white Europeans.
• People were divided on skin colour.
• Separate modes of communications, public  facilities and educational institutions were held for black people.
• Nelson Mandela well regarded state man led to the struggle to replace South Africa with non racial democracy.
• Spend 28 years in prison and received the noble prize in 1993.

"I have forget against white and black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. Its an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be its an ideal for which I am prepared to die" - Nelson Mandela.

Struggle Against Apartheid

• Blacks, coloured and Indians started struggle against apartheid system in 1950's.
• Launched protest marches and strikes.
• African National Congress (ANC) is ruling party was found in South Africa in 1992.
• Led struggle against apartheid regime of South Africa.
• Voiced against policies of segregation's.
• Communist party workers unions and sensitive white joined hands with ANC.
• Got massive support of international community.
• Protests and struggles against the apartheid intensified.
• Government realized that they could no longer keep the blacks under repression.
• The white regime changed its policies.
• Discriminatory laws were repealed.
• Ban on political parties and restrictions on media were lifted.
• After 2 years of discussion and debate finest constitution were setup.
• Nelson Mandela was released in 1994, after 28 years of imprisonment.
• Democratic election was held in 1994.
• ANC emerged winner with a 62% majority.
• Today we are entering a new era of our country and its people.
• Today we celebrate not the victory of a party, but a victory for all the people of South Africa.

New Government

• Democracy established in South Africa at the midnight of 26th April 1994.
• The new national flag of the republic of South Africa was unfurled.
• The new government had an important task to frame the constitution.
• Let us find out the details of constitution of South Africa.
• Constitution is a supreme law.
• Determines relationship among people and government.
• Sets rules and regulations for government.
• Most extensive rights provided to citizens.
• Everyone encouraged to participate in resolving problems and finding solutions.
• Strong determination of people transformed bitter experiences into rainbow nation.

"The constitution of South Africa speaks of both the past and the future, on the one hand, its a solemn pact in which we are South Africans. declare to one another that we shall never permit a repetition of our racist, brutal and repressive past. But its more than that. Its also a charter for the transformation of our country into one which is truly shared by all, its people a country which in the fullest sense belongs to all of us, black and white women and men" - Nelson Mandela.