On 03 October 2017, the founder of the Graça Machel Foundation,Graça Machel delivered the 11th Dullah Omar Memorial Lecture. The lecture, titled ‘A call for a nation’s soul searching’, reflected on the founding principles of the South African Freedom Charter and Constitution. Machel also addressed the spate of violence, moral degeneration and socio-economic inequalities in the country, after which she called for a framework for healing and action.
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The founder of the Graça Machel Trust,Graça Machel delivered the 11th Dullah Omar Memorial Lecture at the University of the Western Cape organised by the Dullah Omar Institute. Her topic was "A Call for a Nation's Soul Searching".
On 9th of October, Higher Education Minister, Naledi Pandor, delivered the 12th Dullah Omar Memorial Lecture at the University of the Western Cape. She said, Adv Dullah Omar is one of the less-referred-to stalwarts of the liberation movement. Yet his influence on our history and still emerging democracy continues to be felt long after his passing.
On 16 November 2022 the Dullah Omar Institute hosted the 13th Dullah Omar Memorial lecture to celebrate the memory of a the late Dullah Omar, a person who worked tirelessly towards, and achieved so much, in realising the goals of human rights and democracy. This Lecture's theme 'Reimagining Democracy Through a Social Justice Lens: Reflections on Dullah Omar’s Legacy' was delivered by Professor Thuli Madonsela.
On 20 August 2017, Prof Jaap de Visser delivered a keynote address at the above conference, convened at Makarere University in Kampala, Uganda. His address dealt with the role of local government in realising socio-economic rights.
On litigating socio-economic rights and on the value of institutions such as CLC
On litigating socio-economic rights and on the value of institutions such as CLC.
Albie Sachs, former associate of the Centre and former judge of South Africa’s Constitutional Court (1994-2009). On the Centre as the engine room of the intellectual foundation for the new Constitution…and on combining dreaming, imagining and ‘nuggety research’.
As part of our 25th Anniversary, we collected the perspectives of a range of individuals who all have in common that they were associated with the Community Law Centre and/or with our founding Director, the late Adv Dullah Omar.
On the Centre as the engine room of the intellectual foundation for the new Constitution…and on combining dreaming, imagining and ‘nuggety research’.
On starting CLC’s work on children and women, on combining political negotiation and academic rigour and on Dullah Omar’s role in welcoming back activists returning from exile. #DOI30yrs
On the establishment of the ANC Constitutional Committee in 1990 and its connection with the Community Law Centre. #DOI30yrs
These are the highlights of the Constitution-Building in Africa Conference, which took place on 6 September 2013, This was aimed at providing a platform for the critical engagement with current and past constitution-making processes on the continent, drawing on the comparative experience of academics and practitioners.
On 14 April 2020, the Dullah Omar Institute, together with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) hosted a Webinar on Local Government & COVID-19. With more than 100 participants, including Ms Bogatsu (MM Frances Baard District Municipality) and Mr Lance Joel (COO: SALGA), we discussed the impact of the lockdown on municipal services, finance & governance.
The Dullah Omar Institute recently made an oral submission to the Portfolio Committee on Health in Parliament based on a written submission made in November 2019. Our oral submission focused on three main themes, namely:
A prestigious two-week certificate course in Decentralisation in Africa.
In 2020, we felt the effects of weak political leadership while at the same time a pandemic caused greater inequality in our country. In response, activists came together to deliver services to those who needed it most, and when it comes to holding our elected representatives to account, we learnt that we need to exercise the power we have to protect and defend our democracy. What do you do if you’re concerned about a difficult situation in your community? Who should you approach? We take you through what our law-making bodies (or legislatures) do and the important role they play in our democracy. We’ll also help you understand how you as an activist or ordinary citizen can access your legislatures and why you should do so regularly.
On working for Dullah Omar as an intern, Amy Biehls’ tragic death and how it sparked thinking on restorative justice