President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday paid tribute to South Africa’s Constitutional Court, calling it “a national treasure” and “a living monument to justice” as it marked its 30th anniversary on the historic grounds of Constitution Hill.
Speaking from the steps of the former prison where freedom fighters were once jailed, and where the apex court now stands, Ramaphosa hailed the Court as the soul of the nation’s constitutional democracy.
He was speaking at the 30th anniversary celebration of the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, on Friday.
“Built on the ruins of oppression,” he said, “this Court rose as a guardian of dignity, equality, and justice. It has not only interpreted the Constitution—it has given it life.”
Reflecting on the adoption of the Constitution in 1996, which he helped usher in as Chairperson of the Constitutional Assembly, Ramaphosa described the ConCourt’s legacy as “one of courage, clarity and conscience.”
“The Constitutional Court has not bowed to power. It has defended the powerless. From abolishing the death penalty to upholding the rights of the poor, the marginalised, and the forgotten—its judgments have changed lives,” he said.
Ramaphosa acknowledged ongoing challenges in the country, including inequality, service delivery failures, and gaps between constitutional promises and lived reality.
But he reaffirmed the government’s full support for the judiciary and its independence.
“Our people should not have to litigate for their rights to be realised,” he said.
“The Court has carried out its duty. Now the state must carry ours, with urgency, integrity, and accountability.”
He paid tribute to past and present justices, clerks, legal professionals, and civil society actors who shaped the Court into a symbol of justice admired globally.
Special mention was made of founding justices Albie Sachs and Kate O’Regan, who were in attendance.
“Thirty years on, this Court remains our constitutional compass.
“It reminds us that no one, no president, no institution, is above the law,” he said.
In a time of national uncertainty and political flux, the President’s message was clear: South Africa’s democracy endures, because the guardians of its Constitution stand tall.
“We celebrate not just a building but a belief—that justice will always prevail,” he mentioned.
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