The Gender Advisory Committee (GAC) to CODESA 2, met for the first time on 6 April 1992. The committee was charged with the special task of advising on the gender implications of: the terms of reference, minutes and decisions of each of the working groups, and those of the Management Committee. GAC  handed in their report for the second plenary session and continued to meet Post-CODESA 2.

Task Group 2 was responsible for writing the Declaration of Intent, defining standing rules and establishing the commitment and limitations of participating organisations and the government to be bound by the decisions of CODESA. 

The first plenary session or CODESA 1 was held on 20 to 21 December 1991, at the World Trade Centre, Johannesburg. Two judges, Piet Schabort and Ismail Mohamed were chosen to be co-chairs of the convention. 

The 19 South African organisations participating in CODESA 1 negotiations were entitled to a maximum of 12 delegates each. Five international organisations were invited to attend the plenary as observers. 

The first day of the plenary session consisted of a succession of speakers followed by the signing of the Declaration of Intent. All participating organisations signed with the exception of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). The IFP later signed the Declaration of Intent after edits were made to the Declaration of Intent and further delegates to represent traditional leadership were added to CODESA.

During the second day of CODESA 1, comments were delivered on the Declaration of Intent, five working groups were appointed and the decisions on what items the working groups should negotiate were defined and accepted.  The Management Committee replaced the Steering Committee, and a new Secretariat was elected for CODESA 2.  

The Management Committee, previously the Steering Committee, was to implement the decisions of CODESA, create necessary sub-structures, and supervise the administration of CODESA and its working groups. During its first meeting, held on 13 January 1992, the Management Committee established the Daily Management Committee to which the Secretariat reported. The Secretariat continued to be responsible for CODESA's overall administration, under the direction of the Daily Management Committee. 

Based on reports from the Daily Management Committee, the Management Committee  created the sub-committees:  Zulu King and other Traditional Leaders, and the Gender Advisory Committee prior to CODESA 2.

Except for the working groups (handled by the Secretariat), the Daily Management Committee was established to manage the convention as a whole. This committee was responsible for the settling of procedural disputes within the working groups and advising the Management Committee on the addition of further committees.

The Daily Management Committee would also select a chairperson for the Management Committee from amongst its members.