Issued by: Constitutional Assembly
CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY MEDIA STATEMENT
Cape Town, 6 February 1996
The Chairperson of the Constitutional Assembly, Mr MC Ramaphosa, today responded to perceptions that the deadline for public submissions to the constitution-making process has been shortened.
Various organisations have expressed their concern about 7 a February deadline set by Mr Ramaphosa for the completion of discussions on the draft Bill of Rights.
Mr Ramaphosa said that he had given political parties until 7 February to report to the Subcommittee of the Constitutional Committee on bi-lateral discussions which are being held.
"This does not change the deadline set for 20 February. The deadlines I gave parties to report back on their discussions on the Bill of Rights, and other matters, is intended to speed up the process. It is meant to facilitate the process of completing our work by May 1996," he said.
"I would be failing in my duty as Chairperson, if I did not bring the necessary pressure to bear upon political parties to ensure that we meet our final deadline."
Mr Ramaphosa confirmed that 20 February remained the deadline for the public to make submissions on the Working Draft to the Constitutional Assembly. All submissions received by this date would be given careful consideration by political parties participating in the constitution-making process.
Released by: Katharine Mckenzie Tel: (021) 403 2174 or (021) 24 5031 email: kmckenzi@conassem.inca.