Kubayi to launch 30-year Constitution anniversary at Apartheid Museum

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi will lead the national launch of the 30-year anniversary of South Africa’s Constitution on Monday, 2 March 2026, at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. The event will also mark the start of Human Rights Month, according to a statement from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.

The programme will focus on a year-long commemoration under the theme “30 Years of Constitutional Democracy: One Constitution, One Nation. Reflect, Renew, Recommit.” The anniversary marks three decades since former President Nelson Mandela signed the Constitution into law on 10 December 1996.

How the Constitution came to be

The Constitution was adopted by the Constitutional Assembly on 8 May 1996 and certified by the Constitutional Court in October 1996. It came into effect on 4 February 1997. The document replaced the interim Constitution that had guided the country’s transition from apartheid to democracy.

Human Rights Month 2026 will be commemorated under the theme “The Bill of Rights at 30: Making Human Dignity Real.” Observed annually in March, Human Rights Month honours the 69 people who lost their lives during the Sharpeville Massacre and provides a national platform to reflect on the advancement of human dignity, equality and freedom as enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

The joint launch underscores the central place of the Constitution as the foundation of South Africa’s democratic order and the Bill of Rights as the instrument through which its values are realised in daily life, the department said.

Kubayi will be joined by members of the Executive, Chapter 9 institutions, and other key stakeholders. The event will be held in a hybrid format, with a link for virtual participation shared for those unable to attend in person.

What it means for ordinary South Africans

The 30-year anniversary is a moment to reflect on how the Constitution has shaped the country’s laws and institutions, and how it continues to affect the rights of everyone living in South Africa. The Bill of Rights, which forms part of the Constitution, guarantees civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

Human Rights Month is a time when government, civil society and citizens focus on the progress made in realising these rights and the challenges that remain. The Sharpeville Massacre, commemorated on 21 March, is a reminder of the cost at which those rights were won.

The launch at the Apartheid Museum, a site that documents the history of racial segregation and the struggle against it, places the Constitution’s anniversary in the context of the country’s journey to democracy.

What happens next

The national launch on Monday will set the tone for a year of activities marking the Constitution’s 30th anniversary. The department has invited media to attend and cover the event. Further details, including the virtual participation link, will be shared by the department.

For media enquiries, Terrence Manase, spokesperson for the Ministry, can be contacted.