Quote of the week
Universal adult suffrage on a common voters roll is one of the foundational values of our entire constitutional order. The achievement of the franchise has historically been important both for the acquisition of the rights of full and effective citizenship by all South Africans regardless of race, and for the accomplishment of an all-embracing nationhood. The universality of the franchise is important not only for nationhood and democracy. The vote of each and every citizen is a badge of dignity and of personhood. Quite literally, it says that everybody counts. In a country of great disparities of wealth and power it declares that whoever we are, whether rich or poor, exalted or disgraced, we all belong to the same democratic South African nation; that our destinies are intertwined in a single interactive polity.
August and Another v Electoral Commission and Others (CCT8/99) [1999] ZACC 3
CASAC media statement on death of Andries Tatane
MEDIA STATEMENT BY CASAC
18 April 2011
The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) welcomes the decision taken by the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) to lay charges against six of the police officers allegedly responsible for the assault and murder of Andries Tatane. We are pleased that swift action has been taken to bring to justice those whose actions outraged the nation.
We are eager to ensure that in addition to the rights of the family of the deceased being protected, the constitutional rights of freedom of association, of assembly and freedom of expression are also duly respected.
CASAC has been in contact with the family of Andries Tatane, and has offered to provide legal support including a watching brief over the criminal prosecution of the six police officers, as well as exploring other legal remedies that the family may wish to pursue. A representative of CASAC is scheduled to meet with Lefu Tatane, brother, of Andries, in Ficksburg tomorrow (Tuesday 19 April). The SA Human Rights Commission and CASAC will co-operate in ay civil claim that the family may elect to launch.
A formal complaint regarding the excessive and unjustified use of force that led to the killing of Andries Tatane has also been lodged with the Human Rights Commission by CASAC. We have specifically requested an investigation into:
- 1. whether the use of force contributed directly or indirectly to the death;
- 2. whether such use of force as may be found was justified in the circumstances;
- 3. whether the members of the SAPS involved in the incident should be held accountable for their actions;
- 4. whether the SAPS has taken appropriate action to deal with this incident;
- 5. whether any breach of the Constitution or any statute occurred in this matter; and
- 6. to recommend appropriate action in the event of any breaches of the law.
The Chairman of CASAC, Sipho M Pityana, has also sent an open letter to the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, calling on the government to review its approach to the policing of citizen protests. The letter further requests the Minister to urgently make a statement to Parliament setting out the action he proposes to take to ensure public confidence in the police, and to instruct the National Commissioner of Police to seek an engagement with the Portfolio Committee on Police regarding the issue of public order policing. The full text of the open letter is available at www.casac.org.za.
Enquiries:
Lawson Naidoo
Executive Secretary
CASAC
Cell: 073 158 5736
