Access to justice fundamental to social change

Abstract

As the supreme law of the land, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides both the framework and foundation for the transformation of state, law and society. The preamble of the Constitution and the socio-economic rights entrenched in the Bill of Rights - including health, housing, water, social assistance and education - reflect the characteristics of South Africa as a developmental state. At the centre of the transformation agenda is a need to establish a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society founded on human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights.