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.  

Within this series can be found the final versions of bills drafted by all bodies of the Multi-Party Negotiating Process (MPNP) as well as resolutions and adoptions of those bills. 

The Multi-Party Negotiation Process Plenary was a widely representative body of South African leaders and political parties who confirmed and amended agreements reached by all other negotiating bodies of the MPNP. It was the highest body of the MPNP. The Multi-Party Negotiating Process had one Plenary on 17 November 1993.

The second plenary session of CODESA, CODESA 2, took place on 15 to 16 May 1992. During the first day the working groups’ reports and agreements were tabled. A summarised version of the reports were delivered. Tabled agreements were discussed and adopted. Outstanding matters from the working groups were disused for the remainder of the day and continued on the second day. 

During the second day, outstanding agreements for Working Group 2 had not been resolved and deadlock was reached. CODESA 2 adopted the resolution On the way forward in which the Management Committee was given the responsibility to resolve outstanding matters and convene an appropriately representative CODESA plenary to adopt agreements. Working groups were suspended.