Introduction

This chapter examines the relation between Sachs's early work as a revolutionary and his constitutional jurisprudence by introducing Etienne Balibar's notion of 'civility', a principle of anti-violence which will connect with Sachs's recent defense of the role of uBuntu-botho in the contemporary jurisprudence of South Africa. It draws heavily from Albie Sachs's recent judicial autobiography, 'The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law'. However, Sachs's own experience of terrorism not only led him to condemn it as absolutely wrong, no further discussion needed but also led to his understanding that revolutionary movements that are fighting for rights and justice must be limited by the very ethical ideals they stand for, even if they have no choice but to engage in an armed struggle. Sachs's judgments will always be remembered for his unwavering commitment to the ideals for which he risked his life and which he stood by as a judge.