Speeches

Speech by the Hon AC Nel, MP, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, at the Launch of „Essays in Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of SAJEI” on 14 August 2025 at the Office of the Chief Justice, Midrand

Programme Director,
Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice,
Distinguished members of the judiciary,
Justice Dambuza, Managing Editor of this important work,
Esteemed authors and contributors,
Colleagues, guests, and friends,

It is a great honour to join you this morning for the launch of Essays in Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of SAJEI.

This volume marks not only a decade of the South African Judicial Education Institute’s dedicated service, but also the enduring commitment of our judiciary to continuous learning, reflection, and excellence.

When SAJEI commenced operations in November 2011, it was with a vision: to ensure that judicial officers have the skills, knowledge, and ethical grounding to serve our people in a constitutional democracy.

Over the past decade, SAJEI has grown into a cornerstone of judicial development – offering training that is rigorous, relevant, and responsive to the changing demands of justice.

The essays in this book reflect the breadth of the judiciary’s work and its engagement with issues at the heart of our legal system – from the separation of powers to administrative law, from cybercrime to environmental justice, from judgment writing to judicial wellness and ethics.

These are not abstract topics; they are practical, lived realities that shape the quality of justice experienced by our people every day.

We wish to acknowledge Justice Dambuza for her sterling work in guiding this project to completion, as well as each of the contributing authors – Justices Majiedt, Plasket, Makgoka, Goosen, Judge President Musi, Deputy Judge President Sutherland, and Mr Wabunoha and Dr Moshoeu.

Your willingness to share your expertise ensures that this book will serve as a valuable resource for years to come.

The production of this book was not without challenges. Yet the perseverance of the authors, and the support of SAJEI and JUTA, have brought us to this moment.

This reflects the resilience of the judicial community – a resilience we also celebrate in SAJEI’s continued delivery of training, even in the face of disruption and change.

This book is both a milestone and a beginning.

It is a memoir of a decade’s achievement and a call to action for the future.

We are encouraged to hear that SAJEI plans to build on this momentum with further volumes – expanding the record of our jurisprudential and institutional development.

On behalf of Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, we extend heartfelt congratulations to SAJEI, to the authors, and to everyone who played a part in making this publication possible.

May this book inspire deeper reflection, greater innovation in judicial education, and renewed dedication to the ideals of our Constitution.

Let us continue, together, to ensure that our judiciary remains a beacon of independence, integrity, and service to the people of South Africa.

I thank you.