CODESA formed part of a multi-party negotiating process to end apartheid in South Africa and establish a transitional government and constitution. During the Preparatory Meeting between 29 and 30 November 1991, it was decided that the process would be convened under the title Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA).

During 1991 and 1992 CODESA convened two plenary sessions, CODESA 1 and CODESA 2.  Agreements which had been negotiated during task and working group discussions were then debated and ratified by the plenaries as the broader representative body.

Negotiations reached a deadlock during CODESA 2 and were suspended. Materials produced after CODESA 2 are referred to as Post-CODESA 2.

During the Preparatory Meeting, three task groups were created to facilitate planning and formulate an agenda and aims. During the first plenary session of CODESA 1, five working groups were established, each with their own terms of reference and specific tasks related to the agenda and aims of CODESA. 

Between plenary sessions, the working groups met and negotiated frequently. During the second plenary session, working groups delivered their reports on their recommendations and agreements. 

A lack of consensus during CODESA 2,  centred on two major issues - interim government and constitutional principles - this resulted in a deadlock and formal meetings and negotiations were suspended by the end of June 1992. 

The series CODESA 1 contains all meetings preparatory to CODESA 1 ( 20 to 21 December 1991) and the associated plenary documents.

The series CODESA 2 contains all meetings post CODESA 1 and preparatory to CODESA 2 (15 to 16 May 1992) and the associated plenary documents.

The series Post CODESA 2 contains all materials created between 17 May 1992 and June 1992.

The series Annexure A: Various CODESA Records contains transcripts of plenary proceedings, terms of reference for working groups, and ephemera from CODESA plenaries.

19 organisations attended the Preparatory Meeting to organise the means for successful negotiations. During the Preparatory Meeting (29 to 30 November 1991), CODESA was named and its aims considered. It was established that decisions of CODESA would be taken by consensus and that where consensus did not exist, the principles of 'sufficient consensus' were invoked.

The Preparatory Meeting established the Steering Committee which was composed of one person from each of the participating organisations. The Steering Committee was tasked with convening the first plenary of CODESA, and to attend to outstanding items which featured on the agenda of the Preparatory Meeting.

The Steering Committee held its first meeting on 4 December 1991. The Steering Committee was tasked with convening the first plenary of CODESA, and attending to outstanding items which featured on the agenda of the Preparatory Meeting. Tasks included establishing funding for CODESA, general administration, drafting standing rules, creating an agenda for the first plenary, media arrangements and other items.

The Steering Committee formed three task groups: Organisation and Planning, Drafting and Process, and a Secretariat to handle the daily functions while the Steering Committee was not in session. The Steering Committee was replaced by the Management Committee during the plenary.