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
Access to Justice Week: Invitation
In commemoration of women’s month, the Department of Justice & Constitutional Development in the Western Cape has partnered with the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL), BLA (Black Lawyers’ Association) and SAWLA (South African Women Lawyers’ Association) to plan this year’s Access to Justice Week, which will take place from 20-25 September 2010.
The following activities have been identified for the Access to Justice week:
a) Rendering of practical court assistance (20 and 21 September 2010);b) Educational seminar workshops (22 and 23 September 2010); andc) Offering of Legal Advice for the members of the public at Advice offices which will take place across the Western Cape region on 24 and 25 September 2010.
With regard to the first activity, the following courts have been identified:
Civil section- Cape Town Court;Family Law section- Maynard Plaza- Wynberg;Family Law section Bhorat Centre-Athlone;Family Law section- Philippi Magistrate’s office;Family Law section- Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Office;Family Law section-Bishop Lavis Magistrate’s office;Family Law section- Worcester Magistrate’s office;Family Law section- Atlantis Magistrate’s office;Family Law section- George Magistrate’s office (targeting community of Thembalethu); andFamily Law section- Paarl Magistrate’s office (targeting community of Mbekweni).
If you wish to participate in the above activities (by offering legal assistance, advice or training), please contact Carnietta Davidson and/or Matilda Smith (Nadel Western Cape Exec members) who are co-ordinating the activities on behalf of Nadel. Their contact details:
Carnietta Davidson: Email: carnietta@cybersmart.co.za; carnietta@live.co.za / Ph: 021 6805338.
Matilda Smith: Email: Matilda.Smith@uct.ac.za / Ph: 021 6504023.
Please copy me in your emails to Carnietta and/or Matilda.
Warm regards,
Waheeda
“Wathint’ Abafazi Wathint’ Imbokodo!
You strike a woman, you strike a rock!”
