printed version - Community Law Centre

The people of the CentreThe Centre has been fortunate to have attracted researchers and support staff who havebeen committed to its ideals and have devoted their energies to achieving them. It hasalso been fortunate that people have given their time generously to its welfare by servingon the Board of Trustees (and on the Management Committee). Professor Renfrew Christieshould be singled out. Observing the intellectual debates combusting in the office next tohis, and spurred on by his own history in the struggle, he joined the Board of Trustees in1991. As the Dean of Research Christie became a permanent member of the Board in 1995,and has been Chair of the Board for most of the past 15 years. With his probing mind, eyefor detail, wise counsel and constant pressing for academic excellence, he has assisted theCentre enormously.Another key person is Vincent Saldanha. He has been on the Board of Trustees since 1995,first representing the attorneys’ profession, and subsequently as a member of the publicsince his elevation to the bench in 2008. Coming from a public interest law practice at theLegal Resources Centre, he has steadfastly been a guide on how the Centre could betterserve disadvantaged and marginalised communities. Other persons who gave much oftheir time and interest were Dr Rhoda Kadalie, Judge Steve Majiedt, Reverend Trevor Steyn(representing Archbishop Tutu) and Advocate Anwar Albertus SC.The fact that the Centre has been able to perform well is attributable to persons who havebeen attracted principally by the cutting-edge nature of its work and the demonstrableimpact of its engagements. The Centre has only been able to offerhigh-quality researchers university-based salaries on the insecurefooting of annual contracts, and few people can survive for long inan environment where time has to be juggled between fund raising,research, teaching and advocacy. Many of the researchers havethus moved on to senior permanent positions in universities andgovernment. That in itself speaks volumes of the Centre’s capacitybuildingendeavour over the years.The researchers’ frenetic pace and extraordinary output have beenpossible only with the dedicated work of the Centre’s support staff.Dr Rhoda KadalieSetting the tone was the first secretary to the Centre, Sunita Dalla.With the growth of the projects, the position of the office managerwas complemented by project administrators – notably ValmaHendricks, Janine Demas and Renchia du Plessis – who devote theirenergy to the numerous tasks at hand.Professor Renfrew ChristieVincent SaldanhaValma HendricksJanine DemasRenchia du PlessisAnnual Report 2009 15