Ramaphosa Calls for People-Centred Justice Systems, Warns Inaccessible Justice Undermines Democracy
Sun City, The Gulf Observer: President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of justice systems that are accessible, responsive and centred on the needs of ordinary people, warning that justice that is inaccessible, delayed or reserved for the privileged undermines democracy itself.
The President delivered his remarks on Thursday at the opening of the International Conference on Access to Justice at the Sun City Convention Centre in South Africa’s North West province. Held under the theme “Strengthening People-Centred Justice Systems: Deepening Democracy,” the conference brings together representatives of governments, the judiciary, international institutions, the legal profession and civil society from across the world.
President Ramaphosa stressed the need to close the gap between the constitutional promise of justice and the lived experiences of ordinary people. “Justice that is inaccessible is justice that is denied. And justice that is delayed, corrupted or reserved for the privileged undermines democracy itself,” he said.
Bridging the Gap Between Rights and Reality
Noting that South Africa will next month commemorate 30 years since the signing of its democratic Constitution, President Ramaphosa said the existence of constitutional rights does not automatically guarantee that people are able to exercise them.
“A person may have the right to equality and yet experience discrimination. A person may have the right to dignity and yet endure violence and humiliation. A person may have the right to access the courts and yet be unable to afford a lawyer, travel to a courthouse or navigate complicated legal procedures,” the President stated.
He said the challenge is to ensure that constitutional rights translate into meaningful protection and redress, adding that access to justice must go beyond the ability to approach a court to include understanding one’s rights, obtaining assistance, challenging abuses of power and securing effective remedies. “A justice system must not only be open to the people. It must work for the people,” he said.
Overcoming Poverty and Digital Barriers to Access to Justice
President Ramaphosa identified poverty as one of the greatest obstacles to justice, explaining that it limits people’s choices, weakens their bargaining power and exposes them to exploitation. He said government has a responsibility to ensure that justice systems are adequately resourced, efficient, independent and responsive, including by strengthening legal aid, supporting community-based legal services and making legal information available in languages and formats people understand.
He highlighted the work of Legal Aid South Africa in providing representation to those who cannot afford it, alongside Equality Courts, community advice offices, civil society organisations and public interest legal practitioners.
The President also pointed to the role of technology, digital services and alternative dispute resolution in reducing the cost and complexity of accessing justice, while cautioning against new forms of exclusion. “Technology must not create a new divide between those who are digitally connected and those who are excluded,” he said.
Justice for All, Regardless of Wealth
President Ramaphosa warned against allowing economic power to shield anyone from accountability, stressing that the law must provide protection and redress whether an injustice is committed by the State, a corporation, an employer, a financial institution or an individual. “A society cannot be truly just when the ability to defend one’s rights is determined by the size of one’s bank account,” he said.
He called for stronger and independent courts, effective regulators, accessible complaints mechanisms, fair labour institutions and consumer protection authorities.
Urging delegates to focus on three priorities, the President called for making justice genuinely accessible to poor and vulnerable people, building independent, accountable and efficient justice institutions, and establishing meaningful ways of measuring whether justice systems are improving people’s lives. This, he said, requires looking beyond the number of cases processed to consider how long people wait for justice, what it costs them, whether outcomes are fair and whether they are effectively enforced. He added that the conference should produce a practical agenda for change, moving from declarations and commitments to measurable progress.
Renewing the Promise of Justice
Reflecting on the significance of the venue, President Ramaphosa noted that Sun City had, during apartheid, become internationally associated with racial segregation and inequality. “Today, representatives of nations and institutions from across the world are gathered here to advance justice, equality and human dignity,” he said, adding that the transformation of the venue reflects how institutions and societies can change through courage, determination and solidarity.
As South Africa approaches the 30th anniversary of its Constitution, the President said the promise of justice, dignity and equality must be renewed through action every day. “Justice must never be the privilege of the few. It must be the right and the lived experience of all,” he said.
