Professional and ethical conduct are key to bringing back honour to the legal profession Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga says.
- Justice Madlanga made a call for action, stating that honour must be brought back to the legal profession.
- The Book Legal Ethics in South Africa is the first of its kind in contemporary times as the last book was published 40 years ago.
- A call was made for legal ethics to be made compulsory in the country’s LLB curriculum.
In the of the plight of unlawfulness, greed and rapid corruption that constantly dominates current affairs, as seen in the ongoing Madlanga Commission, the book Legal Ethics in South Africa is timely and necessary. The book seems to offer a glimpse of hope urging for a transformation that is rooted in prioritising legal ethics.
On 18 June 2026, Wits University hosted a book launch for Legal Ethics in South Africa edited by Law Professor Helen Kruuse from Rhodes University. The introductory remarks were given by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, who is also currently the chancellor for Rhodes University.
Madlanga emphasised how ethical leadership, integrity and courage are essential for the preservation of the constitution and South African society at large. Additionally, ethics and the constitutional mandate of legal practitioners must extend to people beyond legal practitioners. “Legal ethics in South Africa must be welcomed enthusiastically,” he said.
Madlanga argued that legal ethics needs to be compulsory in the LLB curriculum nationwide as opposed to having it as an optional elective. He said, “legal ethics is not just about compliance, it is about understanding and making moral judgment.”
Madlanga said “ordinary people have a general view of how there is no honour in the legal profession… most people understand it as a profession where people do as they please.” As a result of this connotation, Madlanga pushed for people within the legal field to change this narrative by acting honourably and ethically.
The significance of the book lies in the fact that it is the first book of Legal Ethics in South Africa in contemporary times since the last was published 40 years ago, the book launch celebrated the very first edition of the recently published book. Yet, that is not all, an important aspect of the book is the manner in which it shapes the minds of current and future legal scholars and practitioners which directly impacts how law functions within South Africa.
Facilitator, Professor Helen Kruuse reminded the audience that ethics informs the broader social and psychological context, as she reflected on how the book itself is divided into three parts: Academia, Judiciary and Practice.
Panellist, Professor John Klaaren who initially joined the Wits Law School in 1993, focused on the intersection of law and sociology, noting the relationship between ethics and exclusion stemming from Apartheid.
The second panel member was Former Deputy Judge President Roland Sutherland who was the most senior judge permanently based at the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, He said the “country is inflicted by an integrity deficit which is applicable to everyone.” In the book he reflects on contemporary problems in South Africa such as cross-examination in rape cases and how to deal with them and issues of artificial intelligence.
Lastly, Karabo Ozah, director of the Centre for Child Law and a lecturer in the Department of Law at the University of Pretoria, looked into tensions in conflict of interests such as between legal practitioners and clients, legal obligations and the ways in which judges deal with ethical duties by reflecting on recent cases. Ozah also stipulated that guidelines are needed for the ethical representation of children.
At the close of the evening, Klaaren noted that the book is the “start of a conversation, centering in ethical law.” Although the book is centred in the legal context and field, its existence may be a reckoning of sorts for those in the legal profession and society alike.
FEATURED IMAGE: Legal Ethics in South Africa book cover. Photo: LexisNexis Website
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