​​Iconic Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs will deliver the fourth Annual Social Justice lecture hosted by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and Law Trust Chair in Social Justice Studies at Stellenbosch University (SU) on 21 February 2023 – quite aptly a day after World Day of Social Justice on 20 February. This international observance highlights the need for fair and equal treatment of all people.

Director of the CSJ Prof Thuli Madonsela says the 2023 lecture by Sachs themed Social Justice and the Constitution: Is this the country we were fighting for? seeks to join the world in spotlighting social justice as one of the most pressing challenges of our time, alongside climate change.

“Its timing could not be more apt given that many are turning their back on the Constitution, with some accusing it of being nothing more than a so-called Potemkin village while others reject it as a neoliberal blueprint ossifying the status quo," Madonsela says.

As a freedom struggle veteran, celebrated author and former judge appointed to the first Constitutional Court of South Africa, Sachs brings unparalleled insider knowledge to the genesis of our constitution and the genealogy of its transformative and egalitarian provisions, Madonsela explains. “We trust that his lecture on Social Justice and The Constitution: Is this the Country We Fought For will provoke some reflections and move the needle regarding the becoming what the Constitution envisioned for us," she says.

Sachs played a leading role in the struggle against apartheid, and he has been honoured with many awards, local and international. He began practicing as an advocate at the Cape Bar at the age of 21, defending people charged under the racial statutes and security laws of apartheid. After two spells of being detained in solitary confinement without trial, first for five months, then for three months, he went into exile in England, where he completed a PhD at Sussex University.

In 1988, Sachs was injured in a car bomb attack by South African security forces, which resulted in the loss of his arm and vision in one eye. After the end of apartheid, Sachs played a key role in drafting the country's post-apartheid constitution.

The CSJ at SU is committed to promoting equality, fairness, and dignity for all people. Through its academic programs and community outreach efforts, the Centre aims to create a more inclusive and equitable world by fostering critical thinking, open dialogue, and meaningful engagement with the broader community.

The Social Justice Lecture by Sachs is an important opportunity for members of the University community and the general public to learn from a leading voice in the fight for human rights and social justice. His lecture will be a powerful reminder of the importance of collective action and perseverance in overcoming obstacles and achieving change.

• The Social Justice Lecture by Justice Albie Sachs will start at 18:00 in the Ou Hoofgebou, home to SU's Faculty of Law.
• Click here to RSVP to attend the lecture.
  
• Please note that the event will be streamed live at https://www.sun.ac.za/english/streaming
  

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