Media Statements

The African National Congress (ANC) marks the 30th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of South Africa as a moment of profound national significance. Established on the site of a former prison, the Court stands as a powerful symbol of our transition from oppression to democracy, where once walls confined freedom fighters, today they uphold the rights and dignity of all who live in South Africa.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, addressing the anniversary celebrations at the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein, reflected on the Court’s journey as one of moral authority and legal leadership. He recalled his own role in the drafting of the Constitution, which he described as the birth certificate of the democratic South African nation, a document that affirms identity, grants rights, and binds all to a shared future. The President paid tribute to the Court’s enduring role as the guardian of this constitutional vision over the past three decades.

The ANC salutes the pioneering judges and legal minds, past and present, whose integrity, courage, and jurisprudence have entrenched constitutional democracy. Through landmark judgments that abolished the death penalty, upheld socio-economic rights, and defended the rights of the marginalised, the Constitutional Court has not only interpreted the law but transformed society. These rulings reflect the enduring spirit of the Freedom Charter and the 1943 African Claims, foundational documents in the long arc of the struggle for justice.

Yet, as the President rightly cautioned, the constitutional promise remains unfulfilled for many. The ANC acknowledges the gap between rights on paper and delivery in practice. It is unacceptable that litigants like Ms. Irene Grootboom, who won historic victories, died without seeing tangible change. This reality places a renewed obligation on the state to implement court judgments diligently, deliver basic services, and respect the independence of the judiciary.

As we commemorate 30 years of the Constitutional Court, the ANC recommits itself to defending the Constitution, strengthening institutions, and deepening the culture of constitutionalism in every sphereof public life. We urge all sectors of society to join us in protecting this democratic institution, ensuring it remains a beacon of justice, transformation, and hope for generations to come.

This 30th anniversary also coincides meaningfully with the 70th anniversary commemoration of the Freedom Charter, whose timeless vision continues to guide our democratic journey. The clause “All shall be equal before the law” finds its living expression in the very existence and function of the Constitutional Court. From its inception, the Court has given tangible meaning to this ideal, affirming the equality of all South Africans regardless of race, class, gender, or status.

Its rulings have upheld the dignity of the most vulnerable and reminded the powerful that no one is above the law. In celebrating the Court, we affirm the Charter’s enduring relevance and the ANC’s unbroken commitment to building a society grounded in justice, equality, and the rule of law.

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