The Constitutional Assembly adopted the final text of the new Constitution on 8 May 1996, just in time for the deadline that had been set for its deliberations.

The new Constitution was referred to the Constitutional Court for certification in respect of its compliance with the 34 constitutional principles in the 1993 Constitution. After hearing extensive evidence, the court concluded on 6 September 1996 that several provisions of the draft Constitution failed to comply with the immutable constitutional principles. The draft Constitution was returned to the Constitutional Assembly to make the necessary amendments. The amended text was again submitted to the court on 7 October and was given unanimous approval on 4 December in the court’s certification judgment.

The new Constitution was signed into law by President Nelson Mandela in Sharpeville on 10 December 1996, and came into effect on 4 February 1997.