The aim of the discussion is to reflect on the extent to which the South African Constitution is African in its inspiration, ownership and solidarity with the rest of the continent.

The discussion forum draws inspiration from two historical dates. On 9 May 1996, the then Deputy President Thabo Mbeki made his 'I am an African' speech on the occasion of the current South African Constitution's adoption. His inaugural words grounded the Constitution in an African identity that stretches beyond the borders of South Africa, in a mutually reinforcing manner, with other African countries. The second date is 25 May 1963, the date of the formation of the African Union, now celebrated annually as Africa Day.

Date: Wednesday, 25 May 2016
Time: 16:00–19:00, followed by a cocktail reception
Venue: Plant Sciences Auditorium, Hatfield Campus, University of Pretoria    
RSVP: by Monday, 23 May 2016, by sending an email to [email protected]

Panellists:

The panellists taking part in the discussion will include:

• Dr Frene Ginwala 
  Former Speaker of the National Assembly
• Dr Mathole Motshekga
  Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services
• Justice Zak Yacoob
  Retired Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
• Justice Johann van der Westhuizen
  Retired Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
• Advocate Pansy Tlakula
  Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
• Prof Sandy Africa
  Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria
• Prof Charles Ngwena
  Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
• Dr Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari
  Senior Research Fellow at the South African Institute of International Affairs

About the Centre for Human Rights

The Centre for Human Rights was established in 1986 and is celebrating its 30th anniversary during 2016. It is both an academic department and a non-governmental organisation. The Centre's work throughout Africa includes human rights education, creating greater awareness of human rights, the wide dissemination of publications on human rights, and the improvement of the rights of women, people living with HIV, indigenous peoples, sexual minorities and other disadvantaged or marginalised persons or groups.

For more information, visit the Centre's website: www.chr.up.ac.za

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