President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised the Constitutional Court as a guardian of South African legal and constitutional health.
Speaking at the 30-year celebration since the apex court was established, Ramaphosa said it has played a critical role in shaping democratic South Africa.
He described it as a symbol of justice and transformation in a country once plagued by apartheid.
“Without the constitution, our country would be cast adrift and would be vulnerable to the excesses of unchecked power,” Ramaphosa said.
“We celebrate the existence of this court over the 30 years in which it has defended our democracy and its democratic vision as set out in our birth certificate, our constitution.”
National unity and healing
Ramaphosa emphasised that the court’s establishment coincided with the country’s emergence from decades of apartheid oppression.
He said it was born of struggle and hope, with a belief that South Africa shall be governed with justice, equality, and dignity for all those who live in it.
Since its early days, the Constitutional Court has helped South Africans understand their constitutional rights and has built trust in the legal system.
Ramaphosa said the court’s clear and fair decisions have prompted national unity and healing.
“It has contributed to building trust in our legal or judicial system through principled constitutional interpretation. It has also contributed greatly towards advancing national cohesion and reconciliation.
“This objective of national cohesion and reconciliation has been enhanced by the court through its decisions.
“It has ensured that all people in our country are treated fairly and equally under the law, thus affirming the legitimacy of the legal order and promoting a sense of belonging among all citizens,” Ramaphosa said.
Access to HIV/Aids treatment
The president noted other cases that he said have had a lasting impact.
These include the ruling that abolished the death penalty, a housing rights case, and the landmark decision in Minister of Health vs Treatment Action Campaign, which helped secure access to HIV/Aids treatment.
“The Constitutional Court has developed rich, transformative jurisprudence. These judgments are not merely legal decisions; they are decisions that have changed lives.
“They have also shaped our society and strengthened our democracy.”
He said the court has also stood up for the rights of same-sex couples, women in traditional marriages, people with illnesses, and society’s most vulnerable members.
“They have affirmed that dignity, equality, and freedom are not reserved for the powerful but guaranteed for all,” he added.
