Community Law Centre bids farewell to Prof Renfrew Christie
Professor Christie has had association with the centre from the beginning and he played a pioneering role at the Community Law Centre. Among other important contribution to the Community Law Centre, Prof Christie also played a crucial role by encouraging the centre to consider litigation as an instrument of advocacy long before other organisations could.
According to the director of the Community Law Centre, Prof Jaap de Visser, Prof Christie has in depth knowledge of those first years of the Centre. “The University context, the dynamic of exiles (such as Albie Sachs and Kader Asmal) to South Africa, the work that was done at the Centre to support the ANC in the negotiations first for the interim constitution and then in a more technical capacity, for the final constitution,” he pointed out.
Prof De Visser went on to say since he has been attending management committee and Board meetings for 8 years Prof Christie never missed one and always arrived early. That's testimony to how seriously he takes his role. He thanked Prof Christie for supporting Community Law Centre and advice in putting together its new constitution.
“We are very fortunate to have had your support and encouragement for such a very long time. We wish you all the best in your retirement,” De Visser concluded.