CONSTITUTIONAL COMMENTARY AND EVENTS
ARTICLES AND STATEMENTS
PODCASTS
SUBMISSIONS
SPEECHES
EVENTS
ARTICLE: THE PORNING OF DISCOMFORT – INXEBA CENSORSHIP
The Film and Publication Board Appeal Tribunal (the Tribunal) rather controversially decided on 13 February 2018 to overturn the original classification rating (16LS) of the film, Inxeba – The Wound to an X18.
STATEMENT: PRESIDENT ZUMA’S RESIGNATION WELCOMED
The Centre for Constitutional Rights (CFCR) welcomes the President’s decision to tender his resignation from the highest office of the land. While the resignation will only come into effect once the Speaker of the National Assembly has been informed in writing, the decision nonetheless brings much needed certainty for the nation. For most of 2018, South Africa has been in a state of paralysis regarding the President’s future at the helm. Such paralysis saw the postponement of the annual State of the Nation Address (SONA), as well the postponement of several key functions of the National Assembly. These included the Public Protector’s appearance before the Justice Committee to answer for the shoddy Estina Dairy Report, which failed to assign proper liability to individuals known to have misconducted themselves, at the expense of South Africa’s particularly vulnerable citizens.
STATEMENT: THE TSAR HAS LEFT, THE DOOR IS OPEN, PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA
Millions of South Africans are celebrating the departure of Mr Jacob Zuma, albeit under great duress, with an initial intransigence and a final goodbye just before 23h00 on 14 February. The nation has suffered politically, economically and socially, during his corrupt, strongman and divisive time in office.
The FW de Klerk Foundation is delighted that change is on the horizon and congratulates the Acting President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa. He has the weighty task to undo the legacies of his predecessor and set South Africa on a course of unity and renewal.
The odds were stacking up against Mr Zuma in the last few days and hours leading to his resignation, two hours short of a midnight deadline set by his colleagues in the ANC. The well-known saying, “…was he pushed, or did he jump?” comes to mind. Increasingly it is being revealed that behind-the-scenes activity indicates an ANC NEC that developed a remarkable unity on the imperative for Zuma to go. Added to this development was the possibility of interparty cooperation regarding a motion of no confidence. Perhaps this demonstrates a maturing of the democratic project in South Africa.
CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
- Equality
- Non-racialism
- Gender Rights
- The Constitution
- The Rule of Law
- Multiparty Democracy
- Personal Rights
- Cultural, Religious and Language Rights
- Freedom of Expression and Political Rights
- Social and Economic Rights
- Property Rights
- Education
- Access To The Courts, Information And Fair Adminstration