HIGHER EDUCATION TODAY - JUSTICE ALBIE SACHS ON LEGAL EDUCATION AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA Guest: The Honourable Albie Sachs, Former Constitutional Court Justice Host: Steven Roy Goodman Original Air Date: 8 September 2013 On today’s segment we have The Honourable Justice Albie Sachs speaking on Legal Education and the Constitutional Court of South Africa. Albie Sachs is a lawyer, activist, author and former judge appointed to the first Constitutional Court by Nelson Mandela. He served for 15 years on the Constitutional Court after having being in exile for over 20 years. He is an author of numerous books, including The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs and The Soft Vengeance of a Freedom Fighter. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Sussex, taught at Columbia University and was awarded honorary doctorates from University of York and University of Cape Town. He obtained his bachelor’s degree at UCT. He learned about law at UCT but also realised that his peers/classmates had different opinions pertaining to the law and how it was supposed to work for all. He realised the law mostly protected and benefited the white race in South Africa, and realised there was a need for a change in the rule of law as well as a new constitution that would work as an umbrella for all South Africans. What makes South Africa’s Constitution one of the most unique worldwide is that it includes what people fought for, a free and democratic South Africa, where all would be seen as equals under the law in their country. It highlights human values, including what it means to be a South African. The theme that runs through the document is human dignity. Albie Sachs says the Constitution ensures that all are equal in the freedoms fought for. The Constitution has very strong children’s rights, non-sexism, socio-economic rights, the right to education, housing and welfare. Bread rights and freedom rights are inseparable in a country with such a dichotomous history. One cannot have the right to freedom of speech but remain hungry while exercising that right. These two go hand in hand. Through the Constitution, South Africans’ lives and dignity have been greatly restored, though much work still needs to be done on a local level all the way up to national government. “Law without passion is not Law.” – Hon. J. Albie Sachs