The Chancellor of Sol Plaatje University, Judge Steven Majiedt, cordially invites you to attend the Annual Sol Plaatje Lecture on Friday, 6 October 2023 at 17:00 in the Library Auditorium on Central Campus.
The keynote speaker this year is Justice Edwin Cameron, an academic, activist, author and a retired Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. He has been described as a “jurist of the highest order”, “the greatest legal mind of his generation” and “in a league of his own”.
After he retired from the Constitutional Court, President Ramaphosa appointed him as Inspecting Judge for the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JISC), where he has been active in advocating for reform of South Africa’s penal and carceral system, as well as for greater independence of JICS. Justice Cameron is also the Chancellor of Stellenbosch University.
He practised at the Johannesburg Bar from 1983 to 1994. His practice included labour and employment law; defence of ANC fighters charged with treason; conscientious and religious objection; land tenure and forced removals; and gay and lesbian equality. He oversaw the gay and lesbian movement’s submissions to the Kempton Park negotiating process. This, with other work, helped secure the express inclusion of sexual orientation in the South African Constitution.
In September 1994, he was awarded senior counsel status. President Mandela appointed him an acting judge and later a judge of the High Court. In 1999 and 2000 he served for a year as an Acting Justice at the Constitutional Court. In 2000 he was appointed a Judge of Appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal. He was appointed a Justice of the Constitutional Court in 2008.
He was the Chair of the Council of Wits University from 1998 to 2008.
Apart from his memoir, Witness to AIDS, he has also written books on the law of trusts, labour law and gay and lesbian lives in South Africa.
Annual Sol Plaatje Lecture Programme
Programme Director: Professor Debra Meyer, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, SPU
17:00 Opening Remarks
Justice Steven Majiedt, Chancellor of SPU
17:10 Welcome Remarks
Professor Andrew Crouch, Vice-Chancellor & Principal, SPU
17:20 Introduction of Justice Edwin Cameron
Dr Jody Cedras, University Registrar, SPU
17:30 Keynote Address
Justice Edwin Cameron, former Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
17:50 Panel Discussion
Facilitator: Justice Steven Majiedt
18:50 Closing Remarks
Justice Mmathebe Phatshoane, Chair of Council, SPU
19:00 Light refreshments served
Note: The event will also be streamed via the SPU YouTube Channel – click here to join online.
Please RSVP by Monday, 2 October 2023 to [email protected]
