Former Constitutional Court judges, Dikgang Moseneke and Albie Sachs launched their books at the Apartheid Museum.
Moseneke was launching his memoir, My Own Liberator while Sachs launched his book, We, the People.
Hosted by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and Wits Press in conjunction with the Apartheid Museum, the event attracted crowds and gave them the opportunity to interact with the former justices.
The foundation also used the event to honour late ANC president, Oliver Tambo. “This year marks the centenary of Tambo’s birth and, as the foundation, we would like to honour this great leader,” said Neeshan Balton, director of the foundation.
The two retired judges used the launch to talk about other current burning issues in the country, with #FeesMustFall being one that was discussed. “It’s shocking and distressing to see libraries and books burnt, but that is just one side of the story,” Sachs pointed out.
“The students are not saying how can I be rich or how can I become important. They saying how can I be a full human being.”
Moseneke dismissed the growing criticism that the democratic dispensation was a sell-out but admitted that democratic negotiations failed to address historic economic inequalities. “I urge young people to be able to understand that we have done a lot. The notion that the 1994 arrangement was a total sell-out is a false one. It’s a wrong one, but was everything done [wrong] in the last 22 years? No!”
He also highlighted that not much had been done to address education, crime, gender equality and land issues, among other things. Both judges played a role in formulating the country’s Constitution. Moseneke highlighted how disheartening it was to see people disregard the Constitution. “I feel a total, deep sadness at comrades deviating from the values of the Constitution. These are the comrades who speak right and walk left,” he said.
Sachs reflected on the journey of creating the bill of rights and said it was about reflecting and encouraging respect for all people, something that he said seemed obvious today but was not during those days.
He also spoke of the role and importance of law in society. “The law is about human beings and the impact of your decisions on human beings. ”
