Following the Bisho massacre, the ANC and the South African government were able to pull back from the precipice and reach agreement on the resumption of negotiations.

The South African government and the ANC met on 26 September 1992, and adopted a Record of Understanding that made provision for:

• an interim Constitution that would be agreed by the negotiating parties;
• a democratically elected Parliament that would also write a final Constitution within the framework of agreed constitutional principles;
• a Government of National Unity;
• the release of all ANC prisoners who had committed crimes with a political motive; and
• moves to secure IFP hostels and to ban the carrying of traditional weapons.

The Record of Understanding opened the way to the resumption of constitutional negotiations, but incensed the IFP which withdrew from the process.