ASCAROL was set up in 2015 to promote constitutionalism and the rule of law. The Trustees include Albie Sachs, Justice Kate O’Regan (Emerita), Judge Vincent Saldanha, Advocate Nazreen Bawa (SC), Dr Thuto Thipe, Thandi Matthews, Moshoeshoe Monare and Vanessa September (Chair).
Since its inception, ASCAROL has commissioned Prof Andre Odendaal to write the now published book Dear Comrade President – Oliver Tambo and the Foundations of South Africa’s Constitution.
Over a period of seven years ASCAROL, through two members of its Board, joined forces with the Constitution Hill Trust to research, design and build the online archive and virtual exhibition of the story of the making of the South Africa’s Constitution. The URL address for the website is https://wethepeoplesa.org.
In the next two years, ASCAROL will commission several further texts about the making of the South African Constitution and the workings of the Constitutional Assembly, which was tasked to write the Constitution based on 34 predetermined principles, and a bio.
Currently ASCAROL is building The Albie Collection – a curated conspectus of the life, love, law, literature and laughter of Albie Sachs. It includes the creation of educational material, in narrative form, for law students and others interested in learning about the South African Constitution and the rule of law through the experiences of Albie Sachs. This project is funded by the Ford Foundation over a four-year period between 2023 and 2026.
Vanessa September, Chair of ASCAROL, is responsible for the administration of all project funds and annual reports to donors.
Marx Gore Chartered Accountants (SA) conducts the annual audits with support from our bookkeeper, Jeanette Thiselton. The most recent Annual Financial Statements can be provided on request.