News and Updates

Honourable Chief Justice Bhekie Maphalala of the Kingdom of Eswatini, and Chairperson of the Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices’ Forum (SEACJF), delivered a keynote statement during the commemoration of the Constitutional Court of South Africa on 20 June 2025. He commended the Constitutional Court for its role in promoting human rights and freedoms while raising concern over global failures to uphold international justice and equality. The Chief Justice highlighted the ineffectiveness of the United Nations Charter, the persistent impacts of neo-colonialism on Africa, and the troubling rise of political interference in judicial independence across the continent. He called for the protection of judges, the strengthening of judicial independence, and the advancement of true African-led justice systems.

Honourable Chief Justice Bhekie Maphalala delivered a statement in Arusha, Tanzania, highlighting the central role of the judiciary in preventing conflicts that often lead to gross human rights violations. He emphasized the duty of domestic courts to uphold constitutional protections, provide accountability, and deliver justice to victims of atrocities. While acknowledging the contributions of regional and international institutions such as the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Chief Justice urged for stronger African-led solutions to address the continent’s challenges. He called for strengthening the African Union, regional courts, and continental justice systems to build a sustainable culture of human rights and justice across Africa.

Honourable Chief Justice Bhekie Maphalala of the Kingdom of Eswatini, also serving as Chairperson of the Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices’ Forum (SEACJF), delivered a goodwill message at the Opening of the 2025 Judicial Year of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, held in Arusha, Tanzania. Speaking under the theme “Advancing Justice through Reparations,” the Chief Justice highlighted the importance of addressing historical and ongoing injustices, particularly those arising from slavery, colonialism, land dispossession, and resource exploitation in Africa. He underscored the critical role of national, sub-regional, and continental courts in promoting reparatory justice, citing landmark African Court and Commission decisions as guiding models for effective reparations. Chief Justice Maphalala called for a unified African approach to reparations and urged judiciaries to ensure remedies are proportional, adequate, and effectively implemented.