SACP SADDENED BY THE NEWS OF THE PASSING AWAY OF ARTHUR CHASKALSON
The SACP has learned with great sadness of the passing away earlier today of the former Chief Justice and the first President of the Constitutional Court, Arthur Chaskalson. An outstanding jurist, highly respected by the legal fraternity, he combined an acute legal mind with a deep passion for social justice and transformation.
It is a lesser known fact that Chaskalson was a member of the underground SACP in the difficult years of the 1960's. He represented the SACP at the CODESA negotiations in the early 1990's.
As the first President of the Constitutional Court, and later Chief Justice, Chaskalson played an absolutely key role in giving substantive transformational meaning to our 1996 Democratic Constitution. As the SACP we are proud of our association with this outstanding South African.
Let us honour Arthur Chaskalson by taking forward the task of advancing, deepening and defending our Constitutional democracy based on the principles of social solidarity and dignity for all.
The SACP conveys its condolences to the family and friends of Arthur Chaskalson