This collection was donated by Khalik Mayet, who acted as the deputy legal advisor to the Transitional Executive Council between 1993 (when the TEC came into operation) up until the end of April 1994.

He was also an executive member of the TIC (Transvaal Indian Congress).

In the latter capacity he was a delegate to the multi - party negotiations which took place at Kempton Park in the run - up to South Africa's first democratic elections.

Khalik Mayet was born in Johannesburg where he completed his schooling, and then went on to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) where he studied for a degree in law. He played an active role in student politics while studying at Wits. He was an activist in the Transvaal Indian Congress and the African National Congress.

The TIC was formed at the turn of the 20th century by Mahatma Gandhi.

The TIC was not banned following in the wake of Sharpeville but it was severely affected by the hard repression of the period.

Many of it's leaders were either banned, imprisoned or went into exile.

By the mid - 60's the activities of the TIC had declined and by the early seventies it was virtually non - existent.

This was also the period of the rise and popularity of Black Consciousness, and the young activists in the Indian Community were involved in new organisations such as SASO, BCP, and SASM.

The Transitional executive council was established by section 2 of the Transitional executive council act 1993. It was to be established in consequence of agreements reached in the forum and the resultant transitional legislation. The TEC was responsible for the voting period during the election, as well as the hours during which the voting took place.

The committees proposed a higher code setting out the guiding principles which ensured free and fair elections and for machinery which were enforced for these principles, backed by an electoral tribune to redress irregularities effectively.

On the 14 July 1993, the Technical committee for the repeal of discriminatory legislation and free and fair elections met with respectively, the committees for the Transitional executive council.

The independent electoral commission, and the committee for Fundamental rights during transition.

The overlap and potential

Overlap of areas dealt with by the committees were discussed.

The TEC functioned as an institution independent of and separate from the state, the government, the local council or and subordinate Ministry, local authority, sub council, department or organ thereof.

Alliances were formed with the S.A.Government, and there were behind the scenes legal challenges to halt certain decisions, by amongst others the Inkatha Freedom Party. The TEC was also responsible for the income and expenditure in respect of the state electoral fund and the commission reported directly to the TEC regarding this matter.

TIC - Transvaal Indian Congress

TEC - Transitional Executive Council