The book reminds South Africans about the Constitutional values which are pillars against which human rights and constitutional obligations lean and how they guide deeper understanding of constitutional principles.
The book serves to help the public to understand the Constitution and its imperatives better – to understand what went wrong in the past 27 years (actions and omissions) in relation to the upholding of constitutional values – and to understand what ought to have been done! And how that ought to have been done.
It identifies the conduct that delayed and delays performance of constitutional obligations especially owing to lack of diligence and disregard for constitutional values and principles by those occupying public office.
It reminds all citizens and office bearers that the Constitution is not a document of convenience. And exposes how those occupying public office including public servants fail to: use and abide by the law; and uphold the Constitution to ensure the realisation of human rights and perform constitutional obligations.
Parliament, provincial legislatures, municipal councils, the Executive, boards, members of commissions, accounting officers, managers and employees are recounted what they out to have done and how they ought to have conducted themselves.
Court judgments, investigation reports and reports of commissions of enquiry are used to evince and expose how constitutional values were disregarded and weakened.
The book assesses and encourages a high standard of ethics, professionalism, integrity, good governance and constitutionalism, and diligence in the performance of constitutional obligations.
It further suggests interventions and recommendations inter-alia the restructuring of the constitutional and legislative framework of certain constitutional bodies and statutory bodies such as Chapter 9 institutions and PANSALB towards a diligent and speedy realisation of human rights and service delivery, and thus uphold constitutional values.
