'Bring honour back to the legal profession' - Madlanga
Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga appeals to legal practitioners to act ethically and honourably at the launch of Legal Ethics in South Africa at Wits.
The launch conversation centred on the search for truth, the profession’s integrity deficit, the claims of conscience, and legal ethics as a vital safeguard of democracy – themes that frame Legal Ethics in South Africa, a book examining the role of ethics in the legal profession.
Co-hosted by the Wits School of Law and Rhodes University on 18 June, the event brought together members of the judiciary, legal practitioners, academics and students to reflect on the place of ethics, accountability and professional responsibility in a changing legal landscape.
The discussion provided a timely reminder that the strength of South Africa’s constitutional democracy depends not only on laws and institutions but also on the integrity of those entrusted to uphold them.
Prof. Garth Stevens, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: People Development and Culture of Wits University, welcomed guests and set the tone for the evening: “We gather tonight in a relatively young constitutional democracy that has achieved much, yet continues to require our constant vigilance, care and protection.
“The survival of our constitutional order cannot be secured by laws, institutions or even our Constitution alone. Its strength depends on people: those who govern, and equally those who question, scrutinise and demand accountability from those entrusted with power.”
He added: “Democracy flourishes precisely when citizens participate actively, when institutions remain robust, and when society values truth, transparency and ethical leadership. It requires a collective commitment to accountability that rests with academics, journalists, public servants and oversight bodies, including those who have spent their careers ensuring that government remains accountable to the people that it serves.”
The publication of Legal Ethics in South Africa, edited by Professor Helen Kruuse of Rhodes University, is the first major South African textbook dedicated solely to legal ethics in over 40 years. The book examines ethical questions facing lawyers, judges, academics and legal professionals working both inside and outside private practice.
“Lawyers operate within a social contract,” said Kruuse. “We are granted significant privileges, including a monopoly over legal services, and in return, society is entitled to expect integrity of the highest order... We are problem solvers operating in difficult spaces. But when we enable injustice rather than resist it, we place ourselves on the wrong side of history.” Read the full address on the Wits University website.
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