Igniting the flame of democracy

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe lights the Flame of Democracy to mark the 15th anniversary of the Constitution of South Africa at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg over the weekend.

“We must light the flame to dispel the darkness of our past. The Eternal Flame of democracy that we are lighting today must never blow out but for ever cast light on our nation.”

That is according to Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe who was speaking at the 15th anniversary of the Constitution of the South Africa at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg over the weekend.

In attendance was Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, Constitution Hill Trust Chairman Cyril Ramaphosa, Former chief justice Arthur Chaskalson, Cheryl Carolus and former Chief Justices among the many dignitaries.

To mark the anniversary, Motlanthe lit the Flame of Democracy, which would be a permanent fixture in one of the four remaining stairwells of the Awaiting Trial Block prison directly opposite the Constitutional Court. The Flame of Democracy was ignited by former president Nelson Mandela and brought up from Qunu in the Eastern Cape to Constitution Hill.

“This light symbolises our inner strength, let us pass it on to future generations. Let the flame of democracy reign supreme forever,” said Motlanthe. A beam of light will be projected into the night sky, for the first time, and it will become a fixture on the city's skyline.

The deputy president added that the Constitution should always reign supreme. This year marks 15 years since we stood in the sun in Sharpeville as the first democratic Constitution of South Africa was signed into law by the father of our nation, Nelson Mandela, he said.

Motlanthe said achieving constitutional democracy was the biggest milestone in South Africa's political history.

South Africa's Constitution has been hailed as one of the best and the most progressive constitution in the world and it was founded on the principles of the freedom charter; it guarantees the rights of all citizens of the republic. He therefore urged all South Africans to rally behind the rules enshrined in the Constitution.

He also paid tribute to the judiciary and the legislature “who have over the years dedicated themselves to building democracy”. For the first time each of the five Constitutions adopted by the country would be on display at the Constitutional Court.

In addition, to document the history that shaped the Constitution. A book entitled: One Law, One Nation: The Making of the South African Constitution was also commissioned  by the Constitution Hill Trust, in collaboration with Jacana, and was published Authored by Lauren Segal and Sharon Cort.

The book charts the story of the long fight for constitutional rights in South Africa, and the complexity and obstacles that faced the Constitution making process after 1990. Using previously unseen archival, photographic and interview material, including Mandela's handwritten notes from the negotiation process, the book offers first-hand perspectives of the hidden history of the development of the South African Constitution.

The book is available at bookstores.

The trust has also mounted an exhibition in the foyer of the Constitutional Court from 12 December 2011 to April 2012, which will display for the first time, each of the five constitutions adopted in South Africa's history.

The final signed copy of the 1996 Constitution, which has never before been on display, will take pride of place directly outside the Constitutional Court chamber.

The second part of the exhibition will be mounted in the Constitutional Court's art gallery and will lead the viewer along 15 steps in the story of the development of the final Constitution.