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 …
Number Four, the Women’s Jail and the Awaiting Trial Block Political Prisoners Rotating screens with artists’ engravings on the exterior of the Constitutional Court – directly opposite the Number Four prison. 1900Boers and pro-Boer sympathisers, like James Thompson Bain, were imprisoned after the British took control of Johannesburg. Cornelis Broeksma, David Garnius Wernick and Burger …
Number Four, the Women’s Jail and the Awaiting Trial Block Read More »
The wooden doors A competition was held for the design of the Court’s doors. The winning submission took the 27 rights in the Bill of Rights and represented them in South Africa’s different languages, including sign language. The use of different languages on the doors was another reminder of the inclusiveness of the Constitution and …
How should the Court be staffed? The Court was also in the position to hire new staff ranging from cleaners, accounting clerks, administrative clerks, personal assistants, librarians and security. The judges decided that the Court should have as diverse a staff as possible. First group of administrative staff of the Constitutional Court. Back row [L-R]: …
How should the judgments be written? We took a decision very early on to use simple language, we wanted our judgments to be understood not only by lawyers and academics but by women and men in the street and we decided for that reason to outlaw Latin phrases. Why use Latin when you can use …
What kind of institutional culture should be created? Justice Kriegler, Chief Justice Chaskalson and Justice Sachs in the Constitutional Court. Gallo Images / Robbie Schneider From the very first meetings, collegiality defined the culture of the Constitutional Court. The judges referred to each other as ‘brother’ and ‘sister’, a practice that still exists today. This …
What kind of institutional culture should be created? Read More »
What would the judges wear? Dikgang Moseneke, then Deputy Chief Justice, wearing the specially designed green robe with red and black trim. Lwando Xaso The 11 Justices of the Constitutional Court. Back row, left to right: Justice Madala, Justice Sachs, Justice Ackermann, Justice Yacoob (appointed 1998), Justice O’Regan, Justice Ngcobo (appointed in 1999), Justice Goldstone. …
Should there be any hierarchy amongst the judges? Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson, (first referred to as the President of the Court), would preside and his deputy would sit on his right. The Chief Justice and the Deputy Chief Justice would always sit in the middle of the bench whilst the rest of the judges would …
Should there be any hierarchy amongst the judges? Read More »
What is the Court’s new symbol? The Court’s logo, a tree sheltering people sitting beneath it, is a representation of the traditional African concept of justice under a tree. It signified the protection of people’s rights in the new South Africa. Constitutional Court Library. Traditionally, the symbol of justice around the world, which has roots in …
Justice AlbieSachs “We wanted a Constitution that was smiling to the people – but it mustn’t be a sneer smile, or an insincere mask of a smile. The smile must come from inside, that people may believe in it, because it’s authentic. And the smile contains tears, and sadness, and a knowledge of imperfection.” During …
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.
