South Africa: Court Annuls Racial Transformation Code in Legal Sector

The Gauteng High Court in South Africa annulled a 2024 government code aimed at increasing Black representation in the legal sector, ruling that Minister Parks Tau did not sufficiently evaluate or justify the measures. The code set targets of 50% Black participation within five years, including 25% held by Black women, and was challenged by four major law firms and the Solidarity union. The court's decision does not question affirmative action principles but sent the case back to the minister for reconsideration, representing a setback for the government's racial transformation efforts.