Pierre de Vos
@pierredevos.bsky.social
Claude Leon Foundation Chair in Constitutional Governance at UCT and author of the Blog, Constitutionally Speaking. I am not a journalist. Hopeful that everyone on this app will read before commenting.
Several Con Court judgments outstanding for more than a year now (Phala Phala case heard on 26 November 2024 also coming up for one year anniversary.) These delays are surely completely unacceptable.
November 24, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Several Con Court judgments outstanding for more than a year now (Phala Phala case heard on 26 November 2024 also coming up for one year anniversary.) These delays are surely completely unacceptable.
Powerful Afrikaans poem about masculinity and the power of vulnerability, from Herman Wasserman's poetry collection “Waterman”.
"ons sal saamhuil en saamsing
totdat elke boytjie dit weet:
water kan ook rotse breek"
"ons sal saamhuil en saamsing
totdat elke boytjie dit weet:
water kan ook rotse breek"
November 4, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Powerful Afrikaans poem about masculinity and the power of vulnerability, from Herman Wasserman's poetry collection “Waterman”.
"ons sal saamhuil en saamsing
totdat elke boytjie dit weet:
water kan ook rotse breek"
"ons sal saamhuil en saamsing
totdat elke boytjie dit weet:
water kan ook rotse breek"
TA-NEHISI COATES: Charlie Kirk, Redeemed: A Political Class Finds Its Lost Cause. By ignoring the rhetoric and actions of the Turning Point USA founder, pundits and politicians are sanitizing his legacy. www.vanityfair.com/news/story/c...
September 17, 2025 at 8:49 AM
TA-NEHISI COATES: Charlie Kirk, Redeemed: A Political Class Finds Its Lost Cause. By ignoring the rhetoric and actions of the Turning Point USA founder, pundits and politicians are sanitizing his legacy. www.vanityfair.com/news/story/c...
William Shoki in his latest "Africa is a Country" newsletter.
September 16, 2025 at 8:19 AM
William Shoki in his latest "Africa is a Country" newsletter.
Shocking that Parliament failed for the past 30 years to amend this sexist and patriarchal provision. (But nice to be cited by the Constitutional Court.)
Husbands can now legally take wives' surnames, ConCourt rules
www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2025-09...
Husbands can now legally take wives' surnames, ConCourt rules
www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2025-09...
September 11, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Shocking that Parliament failed for the past 30 years to amend this sexist and patriarchal provision. (But nice to be cited by the Constitutional Court.)
Husbands can now legally take wives' surnames, ConCourt rules
www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2025-09...
Husbands can now legally take wives' surnames, ConCourt rules
www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2025-09...
Is the SAPS's Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi really a ‘top cop’? Data analysis says no www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...
September 4, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Is the SAPS's Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi really a ‘top cop’? Data analysis says no www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...
These cases - all heard by the Con Court in 2024 - are still awaiting judgment. The longest is now outstanding for close to 18 months, while most of the others are outstanding for close to a year. Incomprehensible.
September 1, 2025 at 12:26 PM
These cases - all heard by the Con Court in 2024 - are still awaiting judgment. The longest is now outstanding for close to 18 months, while most of the others are outstanding for close to a year. Incomprehensible.
Jillian Green, the Daily Maverick editor, informed me this morning that they will not publish the reflection piece I wrote on Gaza. First time DM has ever spiked a piece I submitted to them. I published the piece on my Blog instead: constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/a-story-abou...
August 21, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Jillian Green, the Daily Maverick editor, informed me this morning that they will not publish the reflection piece I wrote on Gaza. First time DM has ever spiked a piece I submitted to them. I published the piece on my Blog instead: constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/a-story-abou...
A story about D, his mother S, and the dehumanising denialism of genocide apologists tinyurl.com/2xpa9cgv
August 20, 2025 at 9:39 AM
A story about D, his mother S, and the dehumanising denialism of genocide apologists tinyurl.com/2xpa9cgv
Happening on Wednesday, 20 August 2025, 12pm–1pm SAST. You can register for free here: shorturl.at/RgheG
August 18, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Happening on Wednesday, 20 August 2025, 12pm–1pm SAST. You can register for free here: shorturl.at/RgheG
Gideon Levy: When Anas Al-Sharif died, so did journalism, and so did truth and solidarity www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025...
August 14, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Gideon Levy: When Anas Al-Sharif died, so did journalism, and so did truth and solidarity www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025...
I wrote something - with the help of Polish poet Wislawa Szymborska, and US novelist Garth Greenwell - about our decadent elites: Why do the work when you can just have a National Dialogue? constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/on-decadent-...
August 14, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I wrote something - with the help of Polish poet Wislawa Szymborska, and US novelist Garth Greenwell - about our decadent elites: Why do the work when you can just have a National Dialogue? constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/on-decadent-...
Interesting. The 7 candidates shortlisted by the JSC for 2 positions on the Constitutional Court. The Constitution requires the JSC to send 5 names to fill the 2 posts to the President, from which he can select 2.
August 14, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Interesting. The 7 candidates shortlisted by the JSC for 2 positions on the Constitutional Court. The Constitution requires the JSC to send 5 names to fill the 2 posts to the President, from which he can select 2.
The excellent William Shoki, editor of Africa is a Country, on the Gaza genocide that continues to unfold in real time. "This is not just a crisis of politics, but of how reality is mediated—and why we must build spaces where meaning can still take root." africasacountry.com/2025/08/on-s...
August 12, 2025 at 11:59 AM
The excellent William Shoki, editor of Africa is a Country, on the Gaza genocide that continues to unfold in real time. "This is not just a crisis of politics, but of how reality is mediated—and why we must build spaces where meaning can still take root." africasacountry.com/2025/08/on-s...
"Although the mood and grub were multi-ethnic, more so than the Boerewors Curtain, it was as we called it, kômmin cosmopolitan. Toasted cheese-and-tomato sandwiches and Five Roses Tea were de rigueur at the drive-in restaurant at the Doll House." www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...
August 12, 2025 at 4:27 AM
"Although the mood and grub were multi-ethnic, more so than the Boerewors Curtain, it was as we called it, kômmin cosmopolitan. Toasted cheese-and-tomato sandwiches and Five Roses Tea were de rigueur at the drive-in restaurant at the Doll House." www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...
Did they bribe so many people that they ran out of money and are not able to pay for a competent criminal lawyer? Or did they pay a dodgy or corrupt lawyer who lied to them? No other explanation for the bizarre and obviously false statement that attempted bribery is not a crime. So embarrassing.
August 8, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Did they bribe so many people that they ran out of money and are not able to pay for a competent criminal lawyer? Or did they pay a dodgy or corrupt lawyer who lied to them? No other explanation for the bizarre and obviously false statement that attempted bribery is not a crime. So embarrassing.
🔒OPINION | Legacy or justice? The Wilgenhof debate and the limits of Cameron’s vision. He finds himself aligned with institutional preservation rather than with meaningful transformation. But universities are not museums. www.news24.com/opinions/col...
August 5, 2025 at 5:19 AM
🔒OPINION | Legacy or justice? The Wilgenhof debate and the limits of Cameron’s vision. He finds himself aligned with institutional preservation rather than with meaningful transformation. But universities are not museums. www.news24.com/opinions/col...
I wrote something explaining why I think the MK Party's constitutional challenge to President Ramaphosa's decision to place Minister Mchunu on a leave of absence and to appoint Prof Cachalia as "acting" Police Minister are not without merit. constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/mk-partys-co...
July 22, 2025 at 5:18 AM
I wrote something explaining why I think the MK Party's constitutional challenge to President Ramaphosa's decision to place Minister Mchunu on a leave of absence and to appoint Prof Cachalia as "acting" Police Minister are not without merit. constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/mk-partys-co...
UCT's Department of Public Law is recruiting to fill several positions in a variety of subject areas. The deadline to apply is 28 July. Please share with anyone who might be interested.
June 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
UCT's Department of Public Law is recruiting to fill several positions in a variety of subject areas. The deadline to apply is 28 July. Please share with anyone who might be interested.
This is the shockingly incomprehensible reasons given for the refusal of the asylum application. Read it and weep.
June 26, 2025 at 4:59 AM
This is the shockingly incomprehensible reasons given for the refusal of the asylum application. Read it and weep.
If The Onion had been an SA publication it could have parodied this staid New York Times headline with: “Trump Is A Po*s, Scholars Say”.
June 10, 2025 at 7:37 PM
If The Onion had been an SA publication it could have parodied this staid New York Times headline with: “Trump Is A Po*s, Scholars Say”.
There is a pattern to my conversations with Israeli friends about Gaza – they deny, dismiss and, eventually, disqualify me from criticising. removepaywalls.com/https://www....
June 9, 2025 at 4:45 PM
There is a pattern to my conversations with Israeli friends about Gaza – they deny, dismiss and, eventually, disqualify me from criticising. removepaywalls.com/https://www....
The Expropriation Act signed in January has, as of this morning, not been brought into effect yet.
May 20, 2025 at 6:05 AM
The Expropriation Act signed in January has, as of this morning, not been brought into effect yet.
Equal Education and the Centre for Law and Society (CLS) is hosting the third annual Yoliswa Dwane memorial lecture at the University of Cape Town on Tuesday, 6 May 2025 at 17:00 in LT2 in the Kramer Law Building. The topic: ‘Gaza, Children’s Rights and International Law’.
April 29, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Equal Education and the Centre for Law and Society (CLS) is hosting the third annual Yoliswa Dwane memorial lecture at the University of Cape Town on Tuesday, 6 May 2025 at 17:00 in LT2 in the Kramer Law Building. The topic: ‘Gaza, Children’s Rights and International Law’.