Positions last held in government
Adv Johannes (Johnny) Hendrik de Lange served as a Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development of the Republic of South Africa from 29 April 2004 until 10 May 2009. He was a member of the National Assembly of Parliament, representing the African National Congress (ANC) from 1994.
He was a member of the Cabinet Committee on Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS); a member of the Cabinet Committee on Governance and Administration (GA); a member of the Cabinet Committee on International Relations, Peace and Security (IRPS); a member of the Cabinet Committee on Social Sector (SS) and a member of the Inter-Ministerial Security Committee (IMSC), from 2004.
Academic Qualifications
Adv de Lange graduated from the University of Stellenbosch, with a BA degree in 1978 and graduated from the University of Cape Town with an LLB degree in 1983. He matriculated at Hoerskool Port Natal in Durban in 1975.
Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities
Adv de Lange was a member of the ANC National Executive Committee Sub-committee on Constitutional Affairs from 1997 and worked for the office of the Master of the Supreme court, Cape Town in 1979, 1981 and 1984. He admitted as an Advocate and completed his pupillage with Adv. Willie Duminy at the Cape Bar, and practised as an Advocate at the Cape Bar in 1985 to 1993.
He was a member of Democratic Lawyers Organisation the BEC of the Cape Town 1986 to 1987; a member of the Executive Committee of Democrats, an affiliate of United Democratic Front (UDF), Western Cape Region 1987 to 1989; a member of BEC of the Western Cape branch of NADEL from 1987 to 1991 and 1993 to 1994. He was treasurer for the Western Cape UDF Regional Executive Committee 1988 to 1990 and a founder member of NADEL in 1986
He was a member of the (NEC) of NADEL, as a National Assistant Secretary 1988 to 1989 and represented NADEL at Annual General Meeting of the American lawyer's organization, the National Lawyer's Guild, in Los Angeles, USA 1989 and he was a member of the Branch Executive Committee of the Observatory/Mowbray branch of the ANC from 1990 to 1991 and a National General Secretary of the NEC of NADEL, 1990 to 1991. He also served as a National Publicity Secretary of NEC of the NADEL 1991 to 1992 and as a National Projects Officer of NADEL, dealing with Constitutional Options 1991 to 1992.
he was a member of the Regional Executive Committee of the ANC, Western Cape Region, 1991 to 1994 and was employed as a Director of the legal Education, Research and Training Project of the NADEL 1993 to 1994.
He was a member of the ANC's negotiating team at the Multi-Party Negotiations Process, at the World Trade Centre, Kempton Park, during the final months of the finalization and adoption of the Interim Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act of 1993, 1993 to 1994.
Member of the ANC's negotiating team in the Constitutional Assembly, under the leadership of Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, during the final months of the finalization, adoption and certification of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 1996, from 1994 until 1996. He was a member of the Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly, which facilitated the establishment of the structures of the Constitutional Assembly 1994.
Member of the Command Centre, which conducted the electoral campaign of the ANC's electoral alliance of the Western Cape Province, in 1994 and every subsequent election. Member of the Constitutional Assembly, representing the ANC 1994 until 1996; member of the ANC Constitutional Commission of the National Executive Committee (NEC) from 1994 to 1996 and the extended Secretariat of the ANC Constitutional Commission in 1996 and member of the Rules Committee of the Constitutional Assembly from 1994 to 1996.
Member of the Theme Committee of the Constitutional Assembly dealing with the Judiciary and Legal Systems from 1994 to 1996; Member of the Judicial Service Commission from 1999 to 2004 and Chairperson of the ANC Parliamentary Study Group on Justice (and Constitutional Development) and ANC parliamentary spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development from 1994 to 2004. He was also a member of Rules Committee of the National Assembly from 1994 to 2004 and a Chairperson of the Sub-committee of the Review of Rules of the National Assembly from 1994 to 2004.
Source: Deputy Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development.
