other forms of deprivation and the restoration of a spirit of respect for human rights and democracy. (n1) It also necessitates the creation of a society within which the chances of recurrence of the kinds of gross violations of human rights that occurred in the past are reduced to a minimum. (n2) Consequently, it is important to evaluate both the constitutional negotiation process and the roles of redressing the past, overcoming the legacy of apartheid, and engaging in nation-building. (n3) The provisions of the Bill of Rights as well as some other sections of the constitution are important building blocks in this reconciliation and transformation process. The ongoing implementation of these constitutional provisions and the perceptions surrounding that process also have an important impact on the actual transformation and reconciliation process. In this article, I offer a brief description of the most striking features of the apartheid regime, followed by an explanation of the overall constitutional negotiation process, which is peculiar to South Africa.