The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The African National Congress is at pains in expressing its loss with the
passing on today of the former Chief Justice and former President of the
Constitutional Court of South Africa,  Justice Arthur Chaskalson.  South
Africa has lost a sterling and outstanding South African who had a huge
and immeasurable impact on our Constitutional democracy and the post
apartheid jurisprudence. He served this country selflessly and sterlingly as the
Chief nJustice of South Africa and subsequently as the President of the
Constitutional Court.

Judge Chaskalson played a pivotal role in opposing apartheid laws and
their manifestations. He was amongst the leading lawyers during the Rivonia
Trial in defending the Rivonia Trialists. He also became key during
negotiations nfor a post apartheid South Africa. He was a leading figure in the ANC's
brain trust on Constitutional and legal matters. He was well known by all
parliamentarians as he had the rare opportunity to swear in all
democratically elected parliamentarians in South Africa in 1994 . He has
served as the President of the International Commission of Jurists.

As a judge he is credited for a number of ground breaking rulings and
judgements. Owing to his diligence and hard work, in 1990 he received the
Human Rights Award of the Foundation for Freedom and Human Rights in
Berne,Switzerland. He has also received awards for his human rights work from
the South African Jewish Board of Deputies and the General Council of the Bar
of South Africa. In 2002, he was awarded the Order of the Counsellor of the
Baobab in Gold for Exceptional Service in Law, Constitutional,
Jurisprudence and Human Rights. The Order of the Baobab is one of the highest awards
given to citizens in South Africa.

The passing on of Arthur Chaskalson has left a void in the arena of legal
minds that is critical in our continued effort to fine tune and achieve
best practice in our endeavor to entrench constitutional legislation and our
democratic institutions.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank his family for having
given South Africa an extraordinary leader whose legacy will be unmatched. To
them, we extend our heartfelt condolences.