Ramaphosa believes democratic order in SA still in 'good health' despite various challenges
President Cyril Ramaphosa was writing in his weekly newsletter, where he said the apex court’s 'humanistic' approach to law over the last three decades should be a source of pride.
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address at the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Constitutional Court on 20 June 2025. Picture: @OCJ_RSA/X
CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa believes the democratic order is still in "good health" in the country despite various challenges being faced.
Ramaphosa said this year marks a bold new chapter in the country’s journey from apartheid to a democracy, as it’s been 30 years since the Constitutional Court convened for the first time.
READ: Ramaphosa: The Constitution is a guardian watching over SA's legal health
He was writing in his weekly newsletter, where he said the apex court’s "humanistic" approach to law over the last three decades should be a source of pride.
Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of the establishment of a specialised Constitutional Court, describing it as a key facet of the multiparty negotiations which preceded the country’s transition to a fully-fledged democracy.
He said that whilst some believed that existing structures, such as the Supreme Court, could perform this task, the African National Congress (ANC) advocated for a new court that was "untainted by the past".
In the letter, he wrote that in March 2025, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council reflected on how the world was facing "a moment of profound instability", characterised by "conflict, democratic backsliding, right-wing populism with judicial independence being undermined".
The council stressed the need for countries to strengthen democratic institutions "charged with safeguarding fundamental rights and freedoms".
Ramaphosa said South Africans can be proud that they continue to strive to live up to this obligation.