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when you have previously negotiated with that party. These factors are now going to be
discussed.
The Venue
It is advisable to choose a location that is conducive to discussion and
concentration e.g. a place that is comfortable and not noisy. Depending on the situation
it may be beneficial to hold a meeting in your home area, which may be your office or
conference room. This may have both psychological and practical advantages.
However, the disadvantage may be that you cannot practically see what you are
negotiating about (which may be property located at your opponent's home), so it may
be better to go to your opponent's place. Sometimes a neutral venue may be the best
choice. However, in ongoing negotiations all the above details may not be necessary
because the process may be conducted by telephone, mail or fax. Therefore, Fuller
(1992:122) recommends that the matter of the selection of the site should be seriously
considered during the planning for the negotiation.
The negotiations between the South Afucan Government and the African
National Congress, which were regarded as the negotiated revolution, started after
political organisations had been unbanned. This opened the way for preparatory
meetings where the ANC insisted that the government fulfil the requirements of the
Harare Declaration, which was internationally recognised, which demanded that the
apartheid regime release all political prisoners, unban all political organisations,
remove military personnel from African townships, cease political executions, end the
state of emergency, and repeal all legislation designed to circumscribe political,
activity. These meetings were called "talks about talks", according to Klug (2000:4).
During the start to the negotiations on the political freedom ofSouth Africa CODESA's
first discussions were held in Cape Town in May 1990 at Groote Schuur between
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