Claire Armstrong - 11836237
Assignment 02 - 17 June 2021
SJD1501-21-S2-15T
QUESTION 1:
The word “ubuntu” comes from the Bantu language. There is no specific answer to
defining what ubuntu means. The best way to define ubuntu is “I am, because you
are” (Ifejika, 2006). Ubuntu is incorporated within our legal system to ensure all
human beings are treated with humanity, regardless of whether they are victims,
suspects, offenders or witnesses. Some of the principles of ubuntu include
acceptance, mutual understanding and respect for one another, dignity,
reconciliation and unity, selflessness and value of human life (UNISA, 2021).
When thinking of the criminal justice system one automatically thinks of the criminal
and not of the victim. Victims suffer tremendously under crimes and sometimes
ubuntu is not used towards the victims. To ensure justice for victims one should
definitely incorporate ubuntu. The victims should be treated with dignity, think of rape
or sexual assault cases, one cannot merely talk about the victim as though he or she
is an object. If one does this, what makes you any better than the rapist? A victim
should be listened to and respected. It happens very often that the victim is not
listened to and not respected. Again, one can look at rape cases, most of the time no
one believes the victim at first and chooses to ignore them or say that they asked for
it. One should remember that every human life has value and that every human
being should be treated as such. When a person was done wrong, does not matter
the crime, a part of their value was taken for granted and was not respected by the
offender.
By implementing these principles of ubuntu into the criminal justice system, one is
not only looking to seek just justice and serve right by the law, but one is looking to
seek justice for the victim. In the end it is the victims’ rights that were violated and
who was not treated with respect, as the principles of ubuntu suggests. One can also
have a look on how to treat the criminal in a dignified manner but that is a whole
Assignment 02 - 17 June 2021
SJD1501-21-S2-15T
QUESTION 1:
The word “ubuntu” comes from the Bantu language. There is no specific answer to
defining what ubuntu means. The best way to define ubuntu is “I am, because you
are” (Ifejika, 2006). Ubuntu is incorporated within our legal system to ensure all
human beings are treated with humanity, regardless of whether they are victims,
suspects, offenders or witnesses. Some of the principles of ubuntu include
acceptance, mutual understanding and respect for one another, dignity,
reconciliation and unity, selflessness and value of human life (UNISA, 2021).
When thinking of the criminal justice system one automatically thinks of the criminal
and not of the victim. Victims suffer tremendously under crimes and sometimes
ubuntu is not used towards the victims. To ensure justice for victims one should
definitely incorporate ubuntu. The victims should be treated with dignity, think of rape
or sexual assault cases, one cannot merely talk about the victim as though he or she
is an object. If one does this, what makes you any better than the rapist? A victim
should be listened to and respected. It happens very often that the victim is not
listened to and not respected. Again, one can look at rape cases, most of the time no
one believes the victim at first and chooses to ignore them or say that they asked for
it. One should remember that every human life has value and that every human
being should be treated as such. When a person was done wrong, does not matter
the crime, a part of their value was taken for granted and was not respected by the
offender.
By implementing these principles of ubuntu into the criminal justice system, one is
not only looking to seek just justice and serve right by the law, but one is looking to
seek justice for the victim. In the end it is the victims’ rights that were violated and
who was not treated with respect, as the principles of ubuntu suggests. One can also
have a look on how to treat the criminal in a dignified manner but that is a whole
