12 June 2002
The South African Communist Party (SACP) heartily welcomes the Braam Fischer Bill passed by parliament yesterday. This Bill makes provision for the reinstatement of attorneys and advocates who were struck of the roll of legal practitioners because of their opposition to apartheid. This Bill is timely, appropriate and a fitting tribute to heroic individuals who sacrificed their individual careers and lives in order to contribute to the building a better South Africa based on a democratic constitution. The Bill is also an important step in the transformation of the judiciary into an efficient and people-centred judiciary.
This Bill is significant to the SACP and the democratic movement as a whole. Prominent amongst those struck off the roll was the late Advocate Braam Fischer who, because of his heritage (as a son of the Judge President of the Free State and grandson of a State President of the Free State), education (Oxford scholar) and profession was destined high positions in the apartheid judiciary and, in fact, any position of power and influence in the apartheid state. However, he opted to join the Communist Party and to fight for equality and freedom in South Africa. He was harassed for decades in his practice as an Advocate until his imprisonment in 1964. He passed away in prison in 1976.
Also struck off the roll were Joe Slovo, Duma Nokwe, former President Nelson Mandela, and Shan Chetty.
At different points in his career Comrade Joe Slovo became the SACP General Secretary and National Chairperson, member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC and Cabinet Minister in the first democratic government in South Africa. Comrade Duma Nokwe was a member of the SACP Central Committee and the Secretary General of the ANC. He passed away at the young age of 50 in 1972.
CONTACT
Mazibuko Kanyiso Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information and Publicity
South African Communist Party
Tel- 011 339 3621
Fax- 011 339 4244
Cell- 083 651 0271
Email- sacp1@wn.apc.org