On 14 February 1995, the newly established Constitutional Court of South Africa was formally opened, with its founding judges taking their oaths of office wearing distinctive green robes designed to mark a clear break from the old judiciary. This unique choice was a deliberate effort to create a visual identity that would symbolise the new post-apartheid era and the progressive Constitution it upheld.
The idea to adopt green robes came from the founding judges themselves, who wanted to distance the court from the traditional black or red judicial dress associated with the pre-democratic judiciary. Justice Yvonne Mokgoro, who served on the court until 2009, explained at length the symbolism behind the robes: “The idea of green robes came about, with red and black trim. Green, the colour of the earth, red and black, to signify that we deal with criminal cases as well as with civil law cases.”
Albie Sachs, one of the court’s founding justices, emphasised that the robes reflected a new institution for a new Constitution: “We wanted to distinguish ourselves from the existing judiciary, so I think fairly quickly we came up with the idea of green.” This visual distinction extended beyond clothing to the court’s logo, which depicts people gathered under a tree — a traditional African symbol of justice and communal consultation. Sachs described the symbolism: “The tree protects the people, and they look after the tree.”
The selection of green robes and the logo’s imagery are part of an intentional approach to root South Africa’s highest court in African traditions while embodying the values of democracy, fairness, and transformation. This identity was crafted right from the court’s establishment in 1994, as the nation sought to break decisively from its apartheid past.
Although the robes’ design details, such as fabric specifics and workshop choices, appear in some accounts, they remain less thoroughly documented across sources. However, the symbolism and intent behind the robes are well supported by statements from key figures and official court materials.
The Constitutional Court’s green robes remain an iconic symbol in South Africa, representing not only the highest judicial authority but also the aspirations of a new democratic society.
We will continue to monitor further insights and historical accounts that shed light on this significant aspect of South African legal heritage.