Newsletter Nov 2015 Vol 26 No 4
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NEWSLETTER Vol. 26 No. 4 Nov 2015 This newsletter is published As the year wraps up so does my first year as your newsletter editor and four times a year what a year it has been. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all the submissions and wish to thank you all for making this such a pleasurable OSALL experience. P.O. Box 783779 Sandton, 2146 In our final edition for the year, for those of us not fortunate enough to have attended the year-end function, we get a glimpse into what looks to have http://www.osall.org.za been a rather sumptuous affair Thank you Danielle for the pictures and write-up. OSALL Committee members Lydia Craemer Roger Gachago, SAFLII’s director was kind enough to write an article on a (Chair) special event they held at Thulamela Chambers in Sandton, Johannesburg Tel: (011) 292 6917 where they celebrated Bowman Gilfillan’s, Norton Rose Fulbright’s and Email: [email protected] ENSafrica’s joint commitments to help SAFLII with some of its core costs Charmaine Bertram over the 2015 – 2017 period and, by so doing, leading the way in showing (Vice-chair) commitment from the profession to promoting access to justice in South Tel: (011) 685 8728 [email protected] Africa. Marina Rubidge (Secretary) Lydia Craemer attended the celebration (which I’m sure we’re all celebrating) Tel : (087) 311 2745 of the refurbishment of the Gauteng Local Division Library. Having managed [email protected] the Western Cape’s High Court library for all those years I’m doubly delighted Karabo Moleya and thank Salome Vranas for all her hard work and dedication. (PR & Liaison) Tel: (011) 669 9174 Email: [email protected] Our regular journal/books noted column is sure to keep you all up-to-date Hesma van Tonder with what is happening in our field and all that is left for me to say is: (Treasurer) Tel: (051) 401 3468 Email: [email protected] Mary Bruce (Listserv administrator) Tel: (033) 345-1304 Email: [email protected] Danielle Botha (Website administrator) Tel: (011) 535-8000 Email: [email protected] Amanda Franken (co-opted) Tel: (011) 797 4225 Email: [email protected] For all newsletter contributions: Tanya Hubbard (Newsletter Editor) Tel: (021) 405 1222 Email: [email protected] ORGANISASIE VAN SUID-AFRIKAANSE REGSBIBLIOTEKE • ORGANIZATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN LAW LIBRARIES • UMKHANDLU WASE NINGIZIMU AFRIKA WEMIT APO YEZINCWADI ZOMTHETHO • MOGKATLO WA LAEBORARI TSA MOLAO WA AFRIKA BORWA • UMBUTHO WAMATHALA EENCWADI ZOMTHETHO ASEMZANTSI • INHLANGANO YEMALAYIBRALI YEMTSETFO YENINGIZIMU NE-AFRIKA • MOKGATLO WA DI LAEBORARI TSA MOLAO TSA AFRIKA BORWA • NHLANGANO WA TILAYIBURARI TA NAWU TA AFRIKA DZONGA • MOKGATLO WA MAKGOBAPUKU A MOLAO A AFRIKA BORWA • NDANGULO YA LAYIBURARI DZA MULAYO DZA AFURIKA • IHLANGANO YAMABULUNGELO WEENCWADI ZOMTHETHO YESEWULA AFRICA Page 2 of 10 Osall Newsletter, Nov 2015 "From Juta with Love" The heroes and villains of Bond were treated to a feast of OSALL 2015 Year End function Oriental delights - shumai and gyosas (dumplings), By Danielle Botha spring rolls and kizus, served in attractive portions on each table. A buffet of rainbow-coloured sushi was then The 2015 OSALL year-end function, hosted by Juta on opened to all – as much as any hungry agent could wish 23 October, was a "fusion" of taste and fun. for. Platters of kyuri (cucumber rolls), special dragon tempuras, tiger rolls, spicy crunch salmon and tuna sushi Held at the Hashi Fushion Japanese restaurant in and crispy chicken sushi slices were laid out in delightful Rosebank, all sorts of "spies" attended in an attempt to harmony, served with a variety of tempting sauces , light live twice in one afternoon – Goldfinger (a.k.a. Carol pink ginger slivers and tiny green wasabi balls. Coetzee), the Man with the Golden Gun (a.k.a. Amanda Franken), Bond girls galore (in fishnets and other attire) and of course the man himself, Mr 007 (a.k.a. Monty Abrahams), looking very dapper in his tuxedo. To sweeten up the villains, sugar in the form of brownies, banana tempura, chocolate spring rolls and deep fried ice-cream was served. Even the most secret agents came out of hiding for this one. After all the culinary secrets had been examined and consumed, heroes and villains laid down their weapons and a general ambience of peace and contentment pervaded the atmosphere. Some secret agents were spotted hiding behind All the agents who were in attendance would like to thank sunglasses, and there were guns aplenty; it's a miracle Juta for hosting this memorable occasion. May the year that no-one called security (or perhaps South Africans end functions of tomorrow never die! just live and let die?). Page 3 of 10 Osall Newsletter, Nov 2015 Bowman Gilfillan, Norton Rose Fulbright and to think harder about its stake in the country’s ENSAfrica champion free access to law in SA constitutional democracy. Every institution, from By Roger Gachago universities to law firms, need to think afresh about their social purpose. To prosper, lawyers need a vibrant legal On the 22nd of October 2015, the Southern African Legal system which, in turn, requires a functioning court system Information Institute (SAFLII) hosted a very special event and access to legal materials”. at Thulamela Chambers in Sandton, Johannesburg. It was an event celebrating Bowman Gilfillan’s, Norton During the event, retired Justice Kate O’Regan and Rose Fulbright’s and ENSafrica’s joint commitments to Professor Hugh Corder thanked the three law firms for helping SAFLII with some of its core costs over the 2015 their contributions in support of SAFLII and the provision – 2017 period and, by so doing, leading the way in of free access to law in South Africa and appealed for showing commitment from the profession to promoting more support from the profession if SAFLII is to keep access to justice in South Africa. Present were, amongst going. SAFLII acknowledges and details these others, representatives from law firms, academics, contributions on its website at development partners and the members of the media. http://www.saflii.org/content/funders. Speaking at the event Justice O’Regan stressed that unless further support is received from the profession, SAFLII will die, and further said: “SAFLII is based upon the principle of free access to law. Free access to law is founded on two key principles: the first is that the rule of law requires the law to be accessible. The publication of judgments and legislation on the internet enables members of society from all walks of life to gain access to legislation and court judgments. A particular benefit of internet publication is that it is freely accessible to everyone who has access to the internet. Even though not everyone in South Africa yet has access to the internet, a steadily increasing number of South Africans do. Of particular importance is the fact that SAFLII makes the law available to lawyers and law students who cannot afford to purchase the law reports Roger Gachago (SAFLII’s Director), Rob Otty (Norton Rose Fulbright’s Managing Director), Kate O’Regan (in her capacity as the DGRU’s Co- and consolidated legislation published by commercial Chair) legal publishers. This event was the culmination of a funding appeal The second principle relates to the accountability of the spearheaded by retired Justice Kate O’Regan (a long- judiciary. The main mechanism for holding judges time supporter and SAFLII board member) and UCT’s accountable for their decisions is through the reasons Professor Hugh Corder, in which the biggest law firms in they give for those decisions. The publication of South Africa were approached consecutively for support. judgments is thus an important mechanism for ensuring This appeal from the Co-Chairs of the DGRU/SAFLII’s the accountability of judges. advisory board received immediate responses from these ‘Big Five’ law firms and, though not all of them were able By supporting SAFLII, law firms mark their commitment to offer support at the time of approach, it was both to the rule of law, and to the project of removing encouraging to see that they all recognised the barriers to legal practice and of widening participation in importance of the work that SAFLII does. the legal profession.” Speaking ahead of the event to acknowledge the support SAFLII currently hosts over 100 000 documents for a free access to law initiative from the three law firms, consisting of a mix judgments, legislation and law the Director of the Democratic Governance and Rights journals, that are accessed by an average of 150 000 Unit (DGRU) and UCT Professor of Public Law, Richard people every month from across the globe. In October Calland said: 2015, SAFLII was accessed by a record 222 605 people, marking an increase of close to 40 per cent from the “At a time when the judiciary is being put under more and previous year. more political pressure and there are understandable concerns about judicial independence and the rule of law SAFLII remains an entirely donor funded project that in South Africa, it is in the interests of the legal profession continues to be in need of funding in order to continue its Page 4 of 10 Osall Newsletter, Nov 2015 current work and expand into a variety project areas to A few more photographs from the Year-End event: broaden its coverage of legal information and invites well- wishers to support it by making donations via http://www.saflii.org/content/supportsaflii . Gauteng Local Division Library refurbishment celebration By Lydia Craemer I had the privilege of attending the Library refurbishment celebrations at the Gauteng Local Division (Johannesburg) on 20 August 2015.