Nel calls on SA to defend its sovereignty from domestic and external attacks

Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel has called on South Africa to defend its sovereignty from domestic and external attacks from those opposed to transformation in the legal sector.

Nel has also called out the “vocal minority” that he accuses of spreading falsehoods about the country and making claims of a “white genocide”.

Nel addressed the opening of a “stakeholder engagement” with legal practitioners to discuss issues facing the legal profession on Monday.

He said there’s been a concerted attack on transformation in the legal sector.

Nel said these forces are behind the legal action to set aside the legal sector code, a Broad-Based black Economic Empowerment framework to accelerate transformation in the legal profession.

He said it’s the same people also spreading false claims about the persecution of white people in South Africa.

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"It's no accident also that the very same people who are at the forefront of propagating the myth of white genocide have also aligned themselves with those who are seeking legally to challenge our legal transformation charter."

The deputy minister said the country should protect its sovereignty and its laws from those opposed to transformation.

"That sovereignty is based on the fundamental principle that every state has the right to govern its own territory and decide on its own internal affairs without any foreign interference."

He urged the sector to defend the transformation charter against any legal challenge.