Author Archives: Lauren

NPA Head Shaun Abrahams has announced that Finance Minister Pravin Gordan is to appear in court on fraud charges

Eusebius McKaiser from Cape Talk / Radio 702 spoke to EWN Reporter Barry Bateman, attorney and Constitutional law lecturer Lauren Kohn and Journalist and political analyst Karima Brown about the implications of the announcement on Pravin and the country. Link to the podcast on the The Best of Redi Tlhabi show: https://omny.fm/shows/the-best-of-redi-tlhabi/npa-press-conference-npa-head-shaun-abrahams-has-a?t=4m58s

Postscript to my article on the Al Bashir Judgment

The original post can be read here: The Bashir Judgment raises the red flag for the Rule of Law and the Judiciary Since the finalisation of this note, two significant developments have ensued. First, President Zuma took the Chief Justice up on his invitation to meet and, in an unprecedented move, on 27 August 2015 a… Read More: Postscript to my article on the Al Bashir Judgment »

The Bashir Judgment raises the red flag for the Rule of Law and the Judiciary

Writing over ten years ago Cameron Stewart compared the rule of law to Tinkerbell – the fairy whose very existence depended upon others’ belief in her and who, in the story of Peter Pan, was saved by the act of clapping as evidence of this belief. (Cameron Stewart ‘The rule of law and the Tinkerbelle… Read More: The Bashir Judgment raises the red flag for the Rule… »

Hawks fly in the face of Justice, Mail & Guardian, April 2016

In the benchmark Constitutional Court judgment of Glenister II, the majority held that “our law demands a body outside executive control to deal effectively with corruption”. This body is meant to be the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), known as the Hawks. We say “meant to be” because practice seemingly reveals the disconerting use… Read More: Hawks fly in the face of Justice, Mail & Guardian,… »

Interviews held for aspiring Supreme Court of Appeal Judges

The Judicial services commission is deliberating on the future of the Supreme Court, it held interviews in Cape Town. Lauren spoke to the SABC News contributing Editor, Vuyo Mvoko, who was in Cape Town and who sat in on the interview process regarding the process. Hopes, fears and aspirations. The possible future of SA Courts,… Read More: Interviews held for aspiring Supreme Court of Appeal Judges »

International Symposium: African Justice Mechanisms & their interplay with the ICC

On 22-24 Macrh 2016, UCT Law Faculty in conjunction with the Africa Group for Justice and Accountability and the Wayamo Foundation hosted an International Symposium on African justice mechanisms and their interplay with the International Criminal Court. The keynote address was given by Judge Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi, President of the ICC. Speakers included, amongst… Read More: International Symposium: African Justice Mechanisms & their interplay with the… »

Human Rights Day

This day, Human Rights Day, I struggle to find my own words in the wake of all that has transpired recently in our country. So, I turn to our Constitution and the powerful words in its Preamble: “We, the people of South Africa, Recognise the injustices of our past; Honour those who suffered for justice… Read More: Human Rights Day »

Reflections on life in SA in the wake of recent challenges

These are heavy days. They really are. I am typically an eternal optimist, but in the wake of recent events, and being a new mom to a baby girl, I would be dishonest if I denied feeling some trepidation about raising her in this country. I do however still feel hope. And I think we… Read More: Reflections on life in SA in the wake of recent… »