The First Socio-Economic Rights Case Soobramoney v Minister of Health (1997) In a constitutional democracy where the right to access healthcare is protected, can a hospital refuse a seriously ill patient treatment because of a lack of resources? Background This was the first case in the Constitutional Court which adjudicated socio-economic rights. Thiagraj Soobramoney, a …
The Powers of the President(Western Cape Legislature) Executive Council of the Western Cape Legislature and Others vs President of the Republic of South Africa and Others (1995) Does the President have the right to both make and execute laws? Can the Constitutional Court find the President’s law-making powers – conferred on him by Parliament – …
A matter of life and death S v Makwanyane & Another (1995) Is the death penalty compatible with the right to life clause in the Constitution? Is it appropriate for the Constitutional Court to take a decision on the abolition of the death penalty, or is it a matter for Parliament to decide? Background The …
Cattle hide on the judge’s bench Since cows have a special meaning in the Hindu society, the Court sought permission to use the hides in this manner. Ashwin Trikamjee, Spiritual Head of the Hindu Community, granted this permission. Cattle hide on the judge’s bench. Tebogo Phalane
Ribbon of light The ribbon of light window, which sits behind the judges in the photo, is at ground level inside the Court chamber. The idea behind this design feature was to keep judges and legal counsel down to earth and connected to real life outside the Court. This glass panel in between the old …
The doors A photograph of a gold and red Kente cloth spoke to us immediately. The design would easily translate into copper or brass to make a flush, modern door that would reflect light – the light of the law, the light representing the highest court in the land. We needed to create over 3 …
The security doors Every security gate to the individual judges’ chambers are unique and have become a ‘collection’ of their own. They are integrated into the building that portrays not only how different each judge is, but also the individual artistic and technical talent, inventiveness and a diversity of skills of the skilled creators of …
The Pius Pillars The mosaics around the pillars were completed by Jane du Rand, Zama Dunywa, Paul Figuero, Raksha Gobardan, Elias Lukhozi, Thando Mama, Richard Masoka, Vukani Mpanzi, Tanja van Zyl and Patrick Xulu.
The Font The designer, Garth Walker, took the graffiti found on the back of the doors of the Number 4 solitary confinement cells, the graffiti from the streets of Hillbrow, the handwriting of Justice Zak Yacoob – who quite significantly had never seen his own writing before because he has been blind since he was …
Freedom, dignity, equality in concrete Usually most courts have formal Roman lettering that looks intimidating. The judges and the architects specifically did not want this. Chief Justice Chaskalson said to the architects that there are 11 judges and 11 official languages, so it should not only be his writing that appears on the concrete of …
President Mandela gives his State of the Nation address in Parliament. Mandela ends his address with the words, “Let us all get down to work”.
President Nelson Mandela announces his cabinet. It includes members of the African National Congress, National Party and Inkatha Freedom Party.
