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
Office of Chief Justice Media statement on “Leadership Conference”
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE HEADS OF COURTS
RE: THE I CAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
16 MARCH 2012
Following media coverage on the notice sent to the Heads of Courts relating to a leadership conference; it has become necessary to put the matter in its correct perspective.
As indicated previously, the need for Heads of Courts to be offered leadership training was identified as far back as 2005. As a matter of record from the 4th to the 5th June 2006, Judges underwent leadership training under the auspices of the Stephen Covey Foundation. In July 2011, the Access to Justice Conference passed a resolution that leadership training be offered to Heads of Courts. This resolution was further endorsed by the Heads of Courts themselves at one of their regular meetings.
It is in this context that the invitation to the Heads of Courts to attend the John Maxwell l CAN Leadership conference or workshop must be understood. In this regard; at a meeting of the Heads of Courts in Johannesburg today (Friday, 16 March 2012); the Heads of Courts comprising the Chief Justice, the Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, the Judges President of the various Divisions of the High Court and Specialist Courts – the Heads of Courts present unanimously stated that they had not felt compelled to attend the conference. They further distanced themselves from suggestions that they were ordered to attend the I CAN Leadership conference; saying that they did not understand the correspondence to be ordering them to attend.
It became clear during the meeting, that the Heads of Courts had also understood the communication to be presenting them with an opportunity to enhance and strengthen their leadership capacity. The Chief Justice further commits himself to the principles and values enshrined in the Constitution and therefore would not engage in any activity that would undermine those values.
Ends.
Enquiries: Lulama Luti; Director: Media Relations, Office of the Chief Justice Tel: +27 (0) 11 359 7537 / 7570; Cell: +27 (0) 76 424 0667; Email: luti@concourt.org.za
