President Cyril Ramaphosa says the state must be at the forefront of deepening the country’s respect for the constitution and the constitutional court.

The President was delivering the keynote address at an event celebrating 30 years since the establishment of the apex court in Johannesburg today.

He says the advancement of socio-economic rights in relation to housing and basic rights has not progressed far enough.

Ramaphosa has lamented the lack of implementation of court orders by state departments which result in the erosion of public trust in state institutions.

“We must acknowledge the troubling irony of lauding the Constitutional Court’s progressive judgments on one hand, especially on socio-economic rights, with the reality that the state apparatus has in many of these cases had to be compelled by this very court to fulfil its obligations.”

“This points to widespread and systematic shortcomings in service delivery that must be addressed. Our people should not have to resort to litigation to have their rights realised,” explains Ramaphosa.

VIDEO | President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the keynote address:

Chief Justice Mandisa Maya has lauded the work of the Constitutional Court in the thirty years of its existence.

Maya was speaking in an exclusive interview with the SABC’s Sakina Kamwedo, ahead of an event being held today at the court in Johannesburg to celebrate 30 years since its establishment.

Maya outlined some of the most monumental judgments delivered by the court.

“In my view it would have to be its first judgement State vs Mokonyane which entrenched the right to life which declared the death penalty unconstitutional and struck it down. There is nothing more precious than life and that judgement set the tone for the work of the court and the approach it was going to assume going forward.”

VIDEO | Chief Justice Mandisa Maya speaks to SABC News:

Meanwhile, former Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke says it was a privilege to serve in the Apex court.

Moseneke paid homage to his fellow justices.

“It was a total privilege. Ultimately to be appointed to come and be one of the guardians, of the high, high values of our people. And as I look, many of the colleagues and the founding 11, whom I called the magnificent 11. The first judges, many of them have passed on.”

“Few of us are still lucky. Justice Albi Sachs, Justice Cato Regan, Justice Sandile Nqcobo … those initial justices who are still around. Many passed on after great, great work that they did for our country and for all our people,” adds Moseneke.

VIDEO | Former Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke pays homage to fellow justices: