Praise for the rule of law in SA

Judge Richard Goldstone, seen here with Judge Yvonne Mokgoro in the Constitutional Court in February 1995, believes the state of law is thriving in SA. “The executive and the legislature have retained their absolute respect for the courts,” he says. “A wonderful example was set by Nelson Mandela. When the Constitutional Court made rulings against the Mandela government, his attitude was, ‘Thank you. It’s your job to put us right when we go wrong.’ ” Goldstone says this positive attitude has continued. “I am more than delighted at the standard of the judgments and the independent decisions that have come out of the Constitutional Court, and they have empowered the lower courts to act in a similar way. I think the law is very healthy.”