19 JAN 2022 —
Today was our first day in court. After a long delay, it was a relief to get to court.
Our legal team was led by Advocate Alan Dodson because the advocate originally scheduled to represent us for the November dates, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, was unavailable for January. We needed to get into court as soon as possible after the November hearing was postponed by the Judge’s illness.
The day started with a ceremonial blessing from Khoi traditional leaders and shamans for the legal team entering court. Most of the day was taken up with presentation by our counsel of arguments, interrupted fairly often, by the judge’s questioning. It ended with a presentation by the legal representative for the Forest People’s Programme who entered the case as an amicus curiae to bring a perspective on how states should approach decision-making processes when it pertains to indigenous people…