Justice Albie Sachs dismisses the notion that SA's constitution is Eurocentric

JOHANNESBURG - The notion of South Africa’s constitution being Eurocentric has lingered throughout our 30-year democracy but one of the founding fathers of the law has dismissed it as far from the truth.

Eyewitness News has turned a sharp focus on the country’s supreme law one of the symbols of our democracy.

The first parliament in the democratic dispensation was tasked with the formulation of the constitution.

One of the judges on the first Constitutional Court bench which approved the law is Justice Albie Sachs.

"Why do you think the perception that the constitution is Eurocentric- out of touch – doesn’t speak to the needs of our people, why do you think it festers to this day?"

The constitution was made overwhelmingly by African people, Oliver Tambo, Pallo Jordan.

South Africa’s constitution has been tried and tested over the years with many landmark cases making their way before the bench over the last three decades.

But it has also been heavily criticised as Eurocentric and out of touch with South Africa’s challenges.

To disprove this Justice Albie Sachs has gone back to the foundations of the country’s supreme law.

"It was crafted in Africa in Lusaka. It wasn’t euro-centered at all – the idea of a bill of rights- the Europeans were telling us oh you need to protect the white minority." 

Sachs says from its foundations in exile - the constitution was always meant to uphold the rights of all and for there to be a bill of rights instead of a bill of whites.