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
Statement issued by the South African Communit Party, December 1 2012
YCL SADDENED BY PASSING AWAY OF ARTHUR CHASKALSON
The Young Communist League of South Africa [uFasimba] mourns the passing away of former Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson. Chaskalson was not only a lawyer and human rights champion. He was an underground activist of the South African Communist Party during the period when the apartheid regime brutally enforced the Suppression of Communism Act, becoming one of those who ditched his privileges of being white to fight for human rights and against apartheid. Chaskalson represented the Party at CODESA.
In December 2002 he received the award of Supreme Counsellor of the Baobab [gold], a national honour, for his service to the nation in respect of constitutionalism, human rights and democracy.
He will forever be etched in South African history for representing the Rivonia Trialist. Chaskalson stood firm and defended the liberation movement throughout the fight for liberation.
"We salute the life and times of former chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson as a beacon of the human rights struggle and a free democratic South Africa" said YCL National Secretary Buti Manamela
Statement issued by YCLSA Head Office, December 1 2012
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