Adv Thuli Madonsela Wins Yet Another International Award

The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) has congratulated former Public Protector Adv Thuli Madonsela on being selected as the recipient of the 3rd Commonwealth Law Conference Rule of Law Award.

Adv Madonsela said: “Words cannot express the honour and gratitude I feel about receiving the Rule of Law Award. Thanks.”

Madonsela will fly to Australia to accept the award at the closing ceremony of the 20th Commonwealth Law Conference in Melbourne, being held from 20 to 24 March 2017.

The LSSA – which is a member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) – said in a press statement that it had nominated Madonsela for the award.

“We are delighted and proud that this worthy South African lawyer will receive international recognition from her peers across the Commonwealth for her work in protecting our Constitution and promoting the concept of the Rule of Law – that all are equal before the law – to all South Africans,” said LSSA Co-Chairpersons Jan van Rensburg and Mvuzo Notyesi.

The CLA said that Madonsela, in her seven years as Public Protector, “demonstrated to ordinary South Africans that there is merit in pursuing the truth, regardless of the obstacles, and that justice can and will prevail”.

CLA said she “created a beacon of hope for all South Africans in ensuring that the public was not only aware of the public abuse of power, but also that they had recourse against it.”

The Rule of Law Award recognises an individual, institution or firm or lawyers who have made an outstanding contribution to the rule of law which has an impact both within their own country and to the broader Commonwealth.

The CLA says its judging panel found Madonsela to be a very worthy winner who demonstrates the attributes this award seeks to foster within the Commonwealth.

Madonsela’s popularity in South Africa continues since she left public office, with social media users often calling on her to run for Presidency. Today she replied to one saying: “We have an abundance of great leaders though some are sidelined by rogue leaders.”

And when one Twitter user asked if she would join Gerrie Nel after he quit the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) to head a special unit with AfriForum (that will take on selective cases the NPA doesn’t prosecute),  Madonsela replied: “Already approached by equally prominent and powerful civil society watchdogs but prefer the job I’ve already taken as an academic and lawyer.”

Source: www.lssa.org.za/