Image: UWC“A legacy is not a monument to be admired from a distance but an invitation to act, to think critically, to serve selflessly.”
Prof Lukas Muntingh, Director of the Dullah Omar Institute, shared these sentiments at the 15th Dullah Omar Memorial Lecture. The event, hosted by the University of the Western Cape (UWC), was a powerful evening of remembrance and reflection in honour of the late Advocate Dullah Omar.
This year’s keynote address was delivered by Professor Emeritus Nico Steytler, a former director of the Community Law Centre (now the Dullah Omar Institute), and a globally respected scholar in constitutional law and governance. His lecture, titled “The Legacy of Dullah Omar: The Human Rights Lawyer”, traced Omar’s journey through three pivotal phases: as a lawyer during apartheid, as a constitutional policy-maker, and as South Africa’s first Minister of Justice in a democratic government.
Prof Steytler described Omar as a “human rights lawyer in the truest meaning of the word,” quoting former President Nelson Mandela. Omar’s legal career was inseparable from his activism. He represented both PAC and ANC prisoners on Robben Island, founded the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL), and was a key figure in the United Democratic Front (UDF). His commitment to justice transcended political affiliation, rooted in a belief that human rights are inherent and universal.
Image: UWC“Rights are not a gift from the state,” Steytler said. “They are won through struggle.”
As director of the Community Law Centre, Omar played a central role in shaping South Africa’s post-apartheid legal framework. He helped draft the ANC’s constitutional proposals, advocated for socioeconomic rights, and envisioned a democratic local government system. His work laid the foundation for the Interim Constitution and 1996 Constitution, which he later helped implement as Minister of Justice. Under his leadership, institutions like the Constitutional Court, the Human Rights Commission, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission were established. Omar’s vision was clear: a constitution must empower the people, protect the vulnerable, and hold the powerful accountable.
This lecture and keynote address were not only a tribute but a challenge. Prof Steytler warned of the erosion of constitutional values in the face of inequality, corruption and impunity. “Our beloved country is in trouble,” he said. “The legacy of Dullah Omar is a call to action.”
He urged the Dullah Omar Institute and UWC to continue addressing pressing issues, such as municipal failure, child poverty and the erosion of democratic institutions.
In a moving vote of thanks, Rahmat Omar, Omar’s sister, reflected on his early days as a lawyer in District Six and his lifelong commitment to mentoring young legal professionals. “He was primarily an activist,” she said. “And the greatest university is the university of struggle.”
She praised UWC’s tradition of nurturing activism and called on the institution to continue supporting the struggles of workers, women and students.
