Florida State University will host Albie Sachs, a prominent human rights activist, writer, and former justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, during the week of October 27. Sachs is known for his work as an anti-apartheid freedom fighter and his significant role in shaping post-apartheid South African society.
The university’s event will feature a screening of the documentary “Soft Vengeance: Albie Sachs and the New South Africa,” a lecture, a book signing, and other activities. The film screening is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, from 5-7 p.m. at the Askew Student Life Cinema, with refreshments served beforehand. After the film, Terry Coonan, executive director of the FSU Center for the Advancement of Human Rights and associate professor of criminology, along with Simon May, professor of philosophy, will lead a discussion session with Sachs.
Sachs was born under apartheid in South Africa and began defending individuals charged under repressive laws early in his career. He later served on South Africa’s Constitutional Court where he helped draft the country’s Bill of Rights.
“Albie has devoted his life to establishing and preserving democracy, equality and justice,” said Matthew Goff, distinguished research professor of religion at FSU and co-organizer of the event. “He showed his commitment to these ideas in a way that represents the importance of the values we respect and honor.”
Sachs earned his law degree from the University of Cape Town in 1956 and became an advocate at age 21. His activism led to incarceration without trial by South African authorities.
“Albie Sachs is a living legend. Rather than seek a violent retribution, he has devoted his life to changing the fundamental conditions for democratic life in South Africa.” — Joseph Hellweg, associate professor of religion, event co-organizer
After being forced into exile in England in 1966 due to his activism, Sachs completed a doctorate on South African legal systems at Sussex University before teaching law in Mozambique. In 1988 he survived a car bomb attack by security agents that resulted in serious injuries but continued working toward building democracy in South Africa.
Upon returning home after years abroad, Sachs joined efforts with the African National Congress’ committees tasked with constitutional reform following apartheid’s end. Nelson Mandela appointed him to serve on the newly formed Constitutional Court after South Africa’s first democratic elections.
“For Albie, revenge meant reconstructing a society founded on laws that represented everyone,” Goff said. “As a judge, he helped write the Bill of Rights and tackled very technical questions about how to institutionalize justice. ‘Soft Vengeance’ means acting in the interest of all.”
On Thursday, October 30 from 5-6:30 p.m., Sachs will deliver a lecture titled “Presidents and Power: How South Africa’s Highest Court Held Nelson Mandela and Two Other Presidents Accountable to the Constitution” as part of FSU’s Ruth K. and Shepard Broad International Lecture Series at College of Medicine Auditorium. A reception precedes this talk at 4:30 p.m., followed by a book signing; both events are open to all members of campus and public audiences.
“Albie wasn’t just an observer — he was a participant in the events he’ll be speaking about, and he played a central role in the post-apartheid transition,” Hellweg said. “His visit underscores the importance of international studies at American universities. Students will be enriched by an introduction to another English-speaking part of the world that has a very different experience of democracy than the United States, one from which we can learn.”
The visit is supported by several university entities including FSU’s College of Arts and Sciences; Department of Religion; Department of Philosophy; College of Social Sciences and Public Policy; College of Law; Center for Advancement of Human Rights; as well as Office of Provost.
For more information about these events or related inquiries contact Matthew Goff (mgoff@fsu.edu) or Joseph Hellweg (jhellweg@fsu.edu).
