-
President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks in the National Assembly.
As the nation marks 30 years since the adoption of the Constitution, President Cyril Ramaphosa says the document has produced a political culture that is robust, participatory, continuously evolving and firmly anchored in democratic values.
Sharing sentiments in his letter on Monday, Ramaphosa says South Africans are fortunate to live in a society with a vibrant public space and deeply engaged citizens who know that they have a voice, and more importantly, that their voice matters.
He says active participation by citizens gives life, meaning and resilience to our constitutional democracy.
Ramaphosa says, “Civil society in our country remains vibrant and resilient. Our constitution safeguards freedom of conscience, thought and expression, whilst firmly entrenching media freedom as one of the cornerstones of democracy. Political contestation takes place openly and freely, reflecting the strength and maturity of our democratic order.”
He adds that the courts continue to serve as institutions that people trust, and provide recourse for ordinary South Africans, political actors and organisations.
“In our country, no one is above the law and scrutiny – and no individual or institution is beyond accountability. It is this commitment to constitutionalism, transparency and the rule of law that sustains public confidence in our democracy.”
Dear Fellow South African,
As we mark 30 years this month since the adoption of our country’s constitution, we can reflect with pride on political culture we have built as a nation – a culture that is robust, participatory, continuously evolving and firmly anchored in the… pic.twitter.com/XJ4wLNKkhG
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 25, 2026
