Conference attracts a panel of eminent speakers across Africa

An exciting panel of high profile speakers is expected to spark a conversation on the process of constitution making and implementation, during an International Conference on Constitution-Building in Africa on 6 September 2013. These prominent figures that have been key in constitution making in various countries will be engaging in a conversation, which will reflect on the relevance of the South African transition for constitution building in Africa. This session will be chaired by Prof. NicoSteytler, National Research Chair Multilevel Government, Law and Policy.

Mr Valli Moosa who participated for the ANC in the Negotiations to end Apartheid and he was appointed Deputy Minister for Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development of South Africa will be part of this conversation. South African politician and businessman, Roelf Meyer is expected to be in this plenary session. Meyer is the former Minster of Constitutional Development and Provincial Affairs.

Another key high profile figure who is expected to be part of this panel is Dr Sidney Mufamadi who is the former Minister of Safety and Security as well as Provincial and Local Government. He is currently the Director of the School of Leadership at the University of Johannesburg. Prof. Yash Pal Ghai, the former chair of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission has also confirmed to be part of this important conversation. He is the former chair of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission, with many years of advising on constitutions, including in a number of countries including Iraq, Nepal, Papua New Guinea.

This conference marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of South Africa’s Interim Constitution. The Interim Constitution was the product of the negotiations between the apartheid government and the liberation movements, which had already commenced in the late 1980s.

It paved the way for the first democratic elections in 1994 and the adoption of the Final Constitution in 1996. The University of the Western Cape's Community Law Centre played an important role in the drafting of the Interim and the Final Constitution and is proud to host a conference to mark the anniversary of the Interim Constitution. The anniversary coincides with a trend towards greater constitutionalism in Africa: a number of countries are undergoing constitution-making processes.

This insightful session will be broadcast live HERE on the day of the conference at 1330hrs-UTC (1230hrs-GMT). Please visit our website, follow @UWC_CLC and like our Facebook Page: Community Law Centre.