CAPE TOWN, December 5 (ANA) – President Jacob Zuma is set to lead the 20th anniversary celebrations of the signing into law of South Africa’s Constitution in Sharpeville, Gauteng, on Saturday.
In a statement on Monday, the Presidency said Zuma would lead the commemoration of “an important milestone of one of the most internationally acclaimed, progressive and transformative constitutions in the world”.
“This year marks 20 years since the signing into law of the Constitution by the late former President Nelson Mandela in Sharpeville on 10 December 1996,” the Presidency said. “The signing of the Constitution was a commemorative gesture in remembrance of the people who died during a peaceful demonstration against the vicious pass laws on 21 March 1960.”
The commemorations will be held on Saturday December 10 under the theme “Celebrating 20 years of the Constitution – transforming society and uniting the nation”. December 10 is also International Human Rights Day.
“South Africa is renowned for its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, locally and globally. We should be proud of this important milestone and reflect on the gains attained by our constitutional democracy for the past 20 years. Our Constitution helps us heal the divisions of the past, and pave the way forward for a democratic open society,” Zuma said.
“Our democracy is functional, solid and stable,” he added.
Zuma said South Africa had in the recent months witnessed racism in different parts of the country. The Constitution, he said, was one of the laid foundations for a long-term programme of building a non-racial society. He called for the promotion of inclusion and a non-racial society for a better place for all who lived in it.
Zuma further encouraged the people of South Africa to respect the Constitution as the supreme law of the country in order to unite the people, end apartheid laws, and facilitate change in political, economic and social relations in the country.
The Constitutional Court earlier this year ruled that Zuma had failed to uphold and defend the Constitution by refusing to comply with former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s remedial action regarding the spending on his private compound in Nkandla.
Madonsela, who investigated the R246 million spent on Zuma’s private homestead, had ruled that Zuma should pay for non-security related items, but Zuma and Parliament had argued that the Public Protector’s findings were mere recommendations.
The Constitutional Court judgment affirmed that the Public Protector’s findings and remedial action were binding, and in reading the judgment, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said: “The president’s failure to comply with the remedial action of the public protector is inconsistent with the Constitution. The president failed to defend, uphold and protect the Constitution of the land.”
Zuma will address the commemorations at the George Thabe Sports Ground in Sharpeville.
According to the statement, the event will commence with the signing of a pledge by the President and other dignitaries at Constitution Square at the Vereeniging Civic Centre, followed by the laying of wreaths at the Sharpeville Memorial Site, whereafter Zuma will address members of the community.
Zuma is scheduled to be accompanied by Mogoeng, heads of the legislatures, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, and Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Thandi Modise.
– African News Agency (ANA)
