Interim Constitution (South Africa)

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993
Parliament of South Africa
  • Act to introduce a new Constitution for the Republic of South Africa and to provide for matters incidental thereto.
CitationAct 200 of 1993
Enacted byParliament of South Africa
Assented to25 January 1994
Commenced27 April 1994
Repealed4 February 1997
Repeals
Republic of South Africa Constitution Act, 1983
Repealed by
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
Status: Repealed

The Interim Constitution was the fundamental law of South Africa from during the first non-racial general election on 27 April 1994 until it was superseded by the final constitution on 4 February 1997. As a transitional constitution it required the newly elected Parliament to also serve as a constituent assembly to adopt a final constitution. It made provision for a major restructuring of government as a consequence of the abolition of apartheid. It also introduced an entrenched bill of rights against which legislation and government action could be tested, and created the Constitutional Court with broad powers of judicial review.