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06 November 2024 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo BORN2SHOOT
inaugural Albie Sachs Prestige Lecture 2024
From the left (back row): Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof Serges Kamga; Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Justice Nolwazi Mabindla-Boqwana; Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation at the University of the Free State (UFS), Prof Vasu Reddy; Project Director of the Albie Collection and Chair of the Albie Sachs Trust (ASCAROL), Vanessa September; and acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at the University of the Free State (UFS), Prof Philippe Burger. From the left (front row): Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS), Prof Anthea Rhoda; Emeritus Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs; and Chief Justice of South Africa, Mandisa Maya.

The Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) hosted the inaugural Albie Sachs Prestige Lecture on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus on 30 October 2024. The lecture – delivered by Emeritus Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs – was titled, ‘Who actually wrote the Constitution, and why they gave eleven unelected judges the power to strike down laws and actions of the democratically chosen parliament and president’?

In attendance at the lecture were Chief Justice of South Africa, Mandisa Maya; acting Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, Prof Anthea Rhoda; Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Justice Nolwazi Mabindla-Boqwana; Senior State Advocate, Antoinette Ferreira; Project Director of the Albie Collection and Chair of the Albie Sachs Trust for Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law (ASCAROL), Vanessa September; as well as the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof Serges Kamga, among other high-profile guests.

In his opening address, Prof Kamga indicated that the lecture aimed to provide some responses to the core questions about the constitution and constitutionalism in South Africa. As such, Prof Rhoda echoed this sentiment, highlighting that, “when it comes to the events that preceded, surrounded, and followed the drafting and adoption of our country’s constitution, there are few commentators better placed than Judge Albie Sachs”.

The making of the constitution

As part of his lecture, Justice Sachs gave a detailed account of the making of the South African constitution. According to Justice Sachs, a total of 490 members of parliament came together to draft the constitution, which included members of the National Assembly and the Senate. These members had been mandated by 20 million South Africans who wanted a better future. As such, he described that moment as a “huge accomplishment on the part of the liberation movement”.

However, he highlighted that fulfilling this mandate was not an easy task, as it required an enormous amount of thought and mobilisation of legal technology to enable those in power at the time to surrender control of the army, police, and to some extent the economy and law-making, among other aspects. These negotiations resulted in a two-state process of constitution-making, which included the drafting of an interim constitution and the establishment of a parliament that would draft the final constitution.

Justice Sachs indicated that once the constitutional assembly sent the constitutional text to the constitutional court to ensure its compliance with agreed principles, it was found non-compliant in eleven respects, for which they had to find solutions in order for the constitution to be adopted.

As he concluded his address, Justice Sachs underscored his pride in having been involved in what he describes as a wonderfully rich story.

Forging a partnership

Subsequent to the address by Justice Sachs, the Faculty of Law and ASCAROL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), formalising the Albie Sachs Prestige Lecture as an annual event and allowing further collaboration. In fact, Prof Kamga highlighted that if Justice Sachs was not available to deliver a lecture, the trust would appoint someone in his place. To further solidify this partnership, the faculty was gifted with some of Justice Sachs’ works, including books and other materials, for its library.

Prof Rhoda expressed gratitude for this collaborative effort, saying, “We are grateful to have found such a partner in Justice Albie Sachs and the Albie Sachs Trust. May this relationship continue to blossom and bear fruit – to the benefit of our young leaders of tomorrow.”

News Archive

New SRC: Records of support and a victory for women
2014-09-04


Ms Mosa Leteane and Ms Louzanne Coetzee
Photo: Johan Roux

While campuses across South Africa regularly report falling voter turnout in campus elections of student representatives, the University of the Free State, in its recently completed SRC elections, registered record levels of support across our campuses with a total voter turnout of 44%. At the Bloemfontein Campus 34,4% of students voted (5052 votes) and 53,3% (1583 votes) at the Qwaqwa Campus.

Also, for the first time under the new SRC constitution, students elected a woman to lead the student body – Ms Mosa Leteane was elected as President. Another first was the election of a blind woman to the SRC – Ms Louzanne Coetzee. She will be responsible for student accessibility of our Bloemfontein SRC. This marks a victory for women in student governance.

Mr Tulasizwe Sithole was elected as the President of the SRC at our Qwaqwa Campus.

The election of Ms Leteane as President underscores the progress achieved for gender equality with near half of her SRC consisting of women (48%).

These successes are all the more significant, since this is the 4th year of elections under newly adopted SRC constitutions that allow for broader participation of diverse student constituencies in student governance.

This means that the crucial 3-year mark to test a new approach and method in governance and elections was not only successfully reached, but also in its 4th year shows the constitution as one that sustains its impact to deepen democracy and citizenship among our 30,000-strong student body.

“The results of the SRC elections across campuses show that our students are not only ready to lead our campus communities on issues relating to justice, freedom and democracy beyond our societal legacies of race and gender, but do so also for the student movement nationally. We’re immensely proud of our students, who show courage and resilience to choose leaders not for expediency, but for significance, and to lead not for some, but for all”, the Dean of Student Affairs, Rudi Buys, said.

The Qwaqwa SRC was installed on 2 September 2014, while the Bloemfontein SRC will be installed on 5 September. The Central SRC will be established on 14 September by joint sitting of the two SRCs.

The SRC members 2014/15 at the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses are as follows:

Bloemfontein Elective portfolios:
President: Ms Mosa Leteane
Vice Pres: Mr Waldo Staude
Secretary: Ms Dineo Motaung
Treasurer: Ms Maphenye Maditsi
Arts & Culture: Mr Stefan van der Westhuizen
Accessibility & Student Support: Ms Louzanne Coetzee
First Generation Students: Ms Mpho Khati
Media, Marketing & Liaison: Ms Lethabo Maebana
Legal & Constitutional Affairs: Mr Lindokuhle Ntuli
Sport: Ms Dominique de Gouveia
Student development & Environmental Affairs: Mr Victor Ngubeni
Transformation: Mr Tumelo Rapitsi

Bloemfontein Ex officio Portfolios
Dialogue & Ex officio: Associations Student Council: Mr Piet Thibane
Academic Affairs & Ex officio: Academic Affairs Student Council: Mr Jonathan Ruwanika
Residence Affairs & Ex officio: Campus Residences Student Council: Ms Melissa Taljaard
City student Affairs & Ex officio: Commuter Student Council: Ms Kerry-Beth Berry
Post graduate Affairs & Ex officio: Post Graduate Student Council: Ms Masabata Mokgesi
International Affairs & Ex officio: International Student Council: Mr Makate Maieane
Student Media Affairs & Ex officio: Student Media Council: Mr Samuel Phuti
RAG Community Service & Ex officio: RAG Fundraising Council: Mr Johan du Plessis
RAG Community Service & Ex officio: RAG Community Service Council: Mr Manfred Titus

Qwaqwa Elective portfolios:
President General: Mr Thulasizwe Sithole
Deputy President: Ms Zethu Mhlongo
Secretary General: Mr Vukani Ntuli
Treasurer General: Mr Langelihle Mbense
Media & Publicity: Ms Nongcebo Qwabe
Politics & Transformation: Ms Nkosiphile Zwane

Qwaqwa Ex officio Portfolios
Student Development & Environmental Affairs: Mr Ndumiso Memela
Academic Affairs: Mr Simon Mofekeng
Arts & Cultural Affairs: Ms Samkelo Mtshali
Off-Campus Students: Mr Khanyisani Mbatha
RAG, Community Service & Dialogue: Mr Njabulo Mabaso
Religious Affairs: Mr Mfundo Nxumalo
Residence & Catering Affairs: Ms Ntombifuthi Radebe
Sports Council: Mr Luvuno

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