Thuli Madonsela shares rule of law passion

PREPARATIONS for Professor Thuli Mandonsela’s Trek4Mandela climb up Mount Kilimanjaro in August took a stride forward with her Masterclass on the Rule of Law in Durban recently.

She addressed the staff of LexisNexis South Africa, the main sponsor of her journey, billed as the Thuli Madonsela Women’s Day Executive Climb.

Prof Madonsela will be leading an expedition of influential women up Africa’s highest peak on a mission to raise enough funds for sanitary pads for the Imbumba Foundation’s Caring4Girls programme to ensure that up to two million girl children will not miss a day of school. The climbers are expected to summit on Women’s Day, 9 August, as the second of two summit groups in this year’s annual Trek4Mandela initiative.

During her Masterclass, Prof Madonsela shared her personal experience of upholding the Rule of Law in both her professional and personal life and the impact this has had on her personally, on society and on communities, inspiring LexisNexis employees to follow her example.

“People need to know the law and understand it. The average person doesn’t know the laws, even average laws that impact on everyday justice. The Rule of Law requires that everybody is protected by the law. It is not only about the survival of the privileged. Access to justice is an important part of the law,” said Madonsela after looking at various definitions of the concept, put forward by Nelson Mandela, the World Justice Project and even LexisNexis itself.

“If the Rule of Law unravels, everything will fall apart and that’s why we should all care about it,” she added.

LexisNexis chief executive, Billy Last, said: “We are putting our full weight behind the nation’s Champion of the Rule of Law, Professor Thuli Madonsela, as we believe wholeheartedly in the cause she is supporting through Trek4Mandela, as well as her life’s work. We recognise the challenges faced by young girls in poor communities, where lack of access to a basic necessity such as sanitary towels keeps them out the classroom for up to 50 days a year, compromising their education.”

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He said the climb means so much more than just reaching the summit, and symbolises the everyday uphill battle faced by young girls from impoverished communities, striving for a dignified womanhood. “We are so passionate about this cause that two dynamic women in our organisation have chosen to accompany Prof Madonsela on the expedition,” he said.

They are Mari van Wyk, executive manager of strategic alliances and partnerships, and Lee-Ann King, national deployment manager.

“We are proud of the women who have taken on this extraordinary physical and mental challenge, which requires rigorous preparation and single-minded focus. They are not only custodians for the Rule of Law, but champions for social justice, enriching their personal stories and making history while changing lives,” Last added.

The kit sponsored by LexisNexis which trekkers will wear during the Thuli Madonsela Women’s Day Executive Climb was also unveiled at the gathering.

The community can support the climbers by sending an SMS with the word “GIRLCHILD” to 42513 to make a pledge of R30.

The goal of Trek4Mandela and the Thuli Madonsela Women’s Day Executive Climb is to provide monthly menstrual support and effective hygiene and health education, to ensure the development and growth of thousands of young South African and African women.

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