Welcome to Constitution Hill, the site of South Africa's highest court of appeal -- the Constitutional Court. The complex is situated on the site of a notorious prison which held many political prisoners during apartheid.
The Constitutional Court building was built using many components of the Old Fort prison, which is intended as a metaphor for the rule of law being the bridge between South Africa's dark past and hopeful future. The metaphor is spread on pretty thick; bricks that are used within the building are loosely laid to signify the freedom of all South African people from the rigidity of apartheid, there are windows in the main courtroom, which signifies transparency, and four of the original prison towers were maintained and incorporated into the building -- two towers have stairs which signify how far the country has come and how far it has yet to go. Actually, the metaphors are a bit overplayed. But it is still pretty cool.
By the way, those words on the Court building are "Constitutional Court" all 11 official languages of South Africa.
That's the week's court roll (schedule of arguments). We watched an argument regarding their freedom of information law, and administrative procedures.
Old Fort Prison:
"No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens but by how it treats its lowest ones."
- Nelson Rolihlala Mandela
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