A concern for marginalised communities: Beyond the call of duty

Justice Edwin Cameron

Many great leaders operate with a strong sense of their own identity, because along with it comes integrity, vulnerability, and a willingness to use themselves to achieve a greater good in society. Their readiness to take interpersonal risks and use their rank, power and privilege to uplift those who need support (especially from marginalised communities) is what makes them exemplary leaders. Such leaders often have the self-awareness that enables them to overcome obstacles in their own lives and inspire others to aim for the best in life. One such leader is Justice Edwin Cameron.

Emerging from a challenging upbringing, Justice Cameron has evolved into a prominent advocate for human rights. His early life was marked by adversity. Notably he spent a significant portion of his formative years in an orphanage. Drawing inspiration from his challenging upbringing, Justice Cameron began displaying an interest in understanding the workings of the legal system. His accomplished career in the human rights space serves as evidence of his determination to fulfil this childhood ambition.

He is a human rights lawyer, professor in law, fighter for the rights of LGBTQIA+ community, ally and defender for those charged with treason, land tenure and forced removals; a Judge in the Supreme Court of Appeal and Constitutional Courts. In 1994, he was awarded Senior Counsel Status by President Mandela where he was appointed as an acting judge and later a judge of the High Court. He served for a year as an Acting Justice at the Constitutional Court, followed by an appointment as Judge of Appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal. His last official position in the judiciary was as Justice of the Constitutional Court from the year 2008 till his retirement in 2019.

His accolades are many, but it is his work with the marginalised communities that makes him a champion of Inclusion. Using his privilege to give voice to the voiceless, he advised the National Union of Mineworkers on AIDS/HIV and helped draft and negotiate the industry’s first comprehensive AIDS agreement with the Chamber of Mines. He co-founded the AIDS Consortium (a national affiliation of non-governmental organisations working in AIDS), which he chaired for its first three years, he founded and was the first director of the AIDS Law Project. This, with other work, helped secure the express inclusion of sexual orientation in the South African Constitution.

Justice Cameron’s inaugural lecture at Wits University, titled ‘Sexual Orientation and the Constitution: A Test Case for Human Rights played a pivotal role, along with his other contributions, in solidifying the inclusion of sexual orientation as a protected category within the South African Constitution. His significant influence in this area paved the way for the LGBTQIA+ community in South Africa, resulting in one of the world’s most comprehensive and democratic legal frameworks pertaining to these rights. Nelson Mandela referred to Justice Edwin Cameron as “One of South Africa’s new heroes”. Justice Cameron demonstrated his ability to lean on vulnerability in the 1990s when he publicly stated that he had been living with HIV for over a decade. Notably, he was and remains the only high-ranking African official to publicly state that he is living with HIV. His contributions extended beyond this personal statement; his efforts in advocating for the inclusion of sexual orientation as a protected category against discrimination in the Bill of Rights, as well as his advocacy for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, solidified his role as a prominent figure in both South African and international legal spheres.

Justice Cameron has shared his experiences as a gay individual and advocated for the eradication of stigma, prejudice, and the criminalisation of homosexuality across the continent. Even after stepping down from his role in the highest court in the South Africa, he still dedicats his time to serving the country in many other capacities, including his current role as Inspecting Judge of the Correctional Services.

Justice Cameron’s invaluable contribution and selfless service to South Africa will continue to be celebrated far and wide. He embodies the spirit of vulnerability and ability to act beyond his own personal interest for the betterment of society.

My take away lessons from Justice Cameron’s leadership

1. To Justice Cameron, inclusion is not just a word, but a call to action.

2. Readiness to use one’s rank, power and privilege to educate the world about difficult topics and to make someone else’s life easier.

3. The word allyship matches his being and style of leadership.

4. He allows himself to be mentored by those society might regard as ‘less than’. He always acknowledges when you have taught him something he did not know or think about before.

5. Always striving for excellence and wanting those around him to show this quality too by guiding them.