Programme Director, colleagues in the Executive, distinguished guests, members of the media, fellow panellists – good evening.
It is my honour to welcome you to this important panel discussion, convened under the banner of the Milestones of Freedom Campaign.
We gather to reflect on one of the most defining achievements of our democratic journey - the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, exactly thirty years ago, on 08 May 1996, when the Constitutional Assembly formally adopted our Constitution.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of that historic moment, a milestone that continues to shape our democracy and guide our collective aspirations.
The Constitution is more than a legal framework and more than just the supreme law of our country.
It is the foundation of our democracy, rooted in human dignity, equality and freedom.
It is who we are.
Thirty years since its adoption it remains a beacon that enables us to deliver the future we want as South Africans.
The Constitution is progressive because it not only recognises the injustices and inequalities of the past but places an obligation on government and citizens - women and men, young and old - to work to “heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights”.
We are celebrating this important milestone under the theme: “One Constitution; One Nation: Reflect, Renew, Recommit.”
The commemoration is a national civic renewal campaign: a coordinated, multi-sectoral programme that reaffirms constitutionalism as the cornerstone of national identity and as a living instrument for justice, equality, and development.
Cabinet has adopted a programme providing for a yearlong, whole-of-government and whole-of-society celebration.
Its goals include to –
- Celebrate and reaffirm constitutional values.
- Educate and engage citizens, especially the youth.
- Reflect and evaluate the performance of democracy.
- Promote the rule of law in everyday life.
- Strengthen institutional trust and accountability.
- Foster national unity and social cohesion.
- Recommit to transformation of our society.
Just like the constitution-making process itself, this year’s national commemoration must be an inclusive initiative, by involving multiple stakeholders, including government departments, Chapter 9 institutions, civil society, academia, organised labour, business, traditional and religious leaders, youth formations, and educational institutions.
The programme will include public dialogues, civic education, cultural events, youth engagements, symbolic events at historic sites and other community driven initiatives to deepen constitutional awareness and social cohesion.
The Milestones of Freedom Campaign is an important part of celebrating and commemorating this historic milestone.
The Campaign is a year-long, whole-of-government programme designed to honour our past while delivering tangible improvements in people’s lives today.
Guided by the theme “Honouring the past, delivering the future”, this campaign brings together national, provincial, and local government, working hand in hand with communities and partners across society.
This evening’s panel discussion, hosted by GCIS in collaboration with the Department of Justice, serves as a precursor to the official launch later this month and provides us with an opportunity to engage deeply with the Constitution as a critical milestone of freedom - a living document that continues to safeguard our rights, strengthen accountability, and inspire our vision of a just, inclusive, and prosperous society.
This year, through the Milestones of Freedom Campaign, we also commemorate other defining chapters of our history.
It has been 50 years since the Soweto Uprising, 60 years since the District Six removals, and 70 years of the Women’s March, amongst others.
These milestones remind us that our democracy was hard-won, and that its preservation requires active participation, vigilance and continuous commitment from all of government and all of society.
Importantly, this campaign is not only about remembrance. It is about action.
It is about bringing essential services to communities across the country - from IDs and birth certificates, to health outreach events, access to housing opportunities, and support for small businesses and youth entrepreneurs, to name but a few.
As we reflect on the Constitution today, let us also reaffirm our shared responsibility: to safeguard its achievements, to tell our stories of how it has positively impacted our lives, and to ensure that its values continue to guide us in building a united, inclusive, and free South Africa.
Distinguished guests and friends, as we begin this discussion, let us remember that the Constitution is not just a milestone of freedom - it is a living expression of our collective commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
May this evening’s dialogue inspire us to honour the past while delivering the future.
Before we commence with our discussions, may I ask that we all rise to recite the Preamble to the Constitution together.
This is a practice which we have standardised as a Department at all our events and we are calling on, and encouraging, everyone – whether it be academia, the media, civil society, government, community forums, business, youth formations and the public at large – to do the same, whenever and wherever possible.
We do this because the Preamble tells us who we are as a nation.
It speaks of where we come from and it tells us where we need to go and what we need to do to become the nation envisioned by the Constitution.
It asks us to reflect on our journey, to renew our commitment to constitutional values, and to recommit ourselves to building a society where justice, dignity, and equality are lived realities.
I therefore take great honour and pride in asking that we all rise, whether in body or in spirit, to recite the Preamble to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa:
We, the people of South Africa,
Recognise the injustices of our past;
Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land;
Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and
Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.
We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic so as to:- Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights;
- Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law;
- Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person; and
- Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations.May God protect our people.
Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso.
God seën Suid-Afrika. God bless South Africa.
Mudzimu fhatutshedza Afurika. Hosi katekisa Afrika.
I thank you.
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