Address to the Constitutional Court

Yesterday I met with Cyril Ramaphosa and Leon Wessels. They said the essential: A constitution must be the pillar of society, far into the future. They wanted it to be short , and succinct,- a pamphlet people could carry in their pockets, and even read in bed.

The process they described for us was an all-inclusive, genuinely democratic problem-solving endeavour to which all South Africans were to become heirs.

In new South Africa, the world can watch how the highest norm of law, the contract with the people, by the people, creates the ultimate form of legitimate rule.

A medieval Norwegian national code stated that "Our country shall be founded on law and not by lawlessness laid waste" This has remained the motto of our lawmakers ever since. This our first truly national code was compiled in the 13th century on the basis of regional codes containing traditional local law dating back several hundred years. But the code also had elements of the old Roman law, thus uniting remote Norway's local understanding of right and wrong, justice and fairness with the classic ideals of antiquity.

This inclusive method of consensus building is valid today and even more so in a world in need of true civility and understanding across the borders of politics and race. Your present democratic process is building on true values which today are shared among the large majority of South Africans - while also taking inspiration from the experience and wisdom of other nations and peoples and tapping the rich legal resources of our common human heritage.

Seen from the point of view of our mutual dependency and shared ideals it is natural Norway should support the process of shaping a new constitution for South Africa. The Norwegian Government is honoured to be able to support the ongoing public hearings which is so important for the lasting legitimacy of the drafting process.

As a further token of the solidarity of the Norwegian people with the new South African democracy I feel privileged to present the gift to the Court of 10 mill. Norwegian Kroner - or about 6 mill. Rand - to the setting up of a Court Library. This gift was announced on the occasion of the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as your President. I am truly pleased to see it materialize in a library which will provide easy access to documentation, jurisprudence and legal instruments of fundamental importance to the further development of your democracy and legal system.

Adopting a constitution is a revolutionary act. I wish to share with you a quotation from the diary of a Norwegian clergyman who described the year 1814 - our "annus mirabilis" when our own constitution was written and signed. He wrote: " 1814 was considered a year. But centuries have run their course and been far less remarkable than this one year." I believe South Africans can understand and share such sentiments today, 180 years later, and agree that the last year has indeed been an astounding one.

This court will become the custodian of this constitution to which all South Africans will pledge their obedience - and from that body of law they will derive their civil and political rigthts. And by the assistance of this court, the Constitution will live, and breathe life and liberty into a united nation.

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