Acting Justice Tembeka Ngcukaitobi delivers lecture on SA's Constitution

Acting Justice Tembeka Ngcukaitobi unpacks South Africa’s Constitution and Bill of Rights in an interactive lecture with learners at the Constitutional Court. He explains who the Constitution protects, the distinction between rights reserved for citizens and those enjoyed by everyone, and what this means for access to education, healthcare and protection from violence. Through practical examples and questions from the students, he explores what the right to basic education should mean in their own classrooms, why rights come with responsibilities, and how ordinary people give meaning to the Constitution. The discussion also tackles discrimination against migrants, gender-based violence, frustrations over service delivery, landmark court judgments and accountability when government fails to comply with court orders. At its heart is Ngcukaitobi’s idea of “constitutionalism from below”: a Constitution that people must actively build, defend and bring to life in their communities.