When Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi rose to speak at the 63rd Annual Session of the Asia-African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO) in Kampala, Uganda, she wasn’t just representing South Africa she was voicing the hopes of coastal communities, environmental defenders, and legal minds across two continents. Her powerful address reaffirmed South Africa’s role in shaping fair and sustainable rules for the world’s oceans.
Their Story
South Africa’s relationship with the Law of the Sea spans decades, rooted in its 1997 ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Minister Kubayi, a seasoned policymaker and advocate for constitutional integrity, used the opportunity to spotlight Afro-Asian cooperation, environmental responsibility, and maritime justice.
Her voice carried the weight of a country deeply committed to equity, conservation, and legal accountability, values that are crucial as nations face the escalating impacts of climate change, ocean exploitation, and unregulated marine activities.
“Our oceans are a shared resource to be managed for the common good,” she said. “We must keep environmental protection, equity, and the rule of law at the heart of ocean governance.”
The Event/Occasion
Held on 10 September 2025, the AALCO session brought together legal experts and government delegates from across Africa and Asia. Minister Kubayi’s address focused on the urgent need for marine protection, the finalisation of the International Seabed Authority’s (ISA) Mining Code, and the role of developing countries in shaping global ocean law.
South Africa, re-elected to the ISA Council for the 2025–2028 term, also renewed its call for simpler and fairer systems of environmental compensation, particularly for coastal states bearing the brunt of ecological damage.
A strong supporter of the BBNJ Agreement, signed by South Africa in 2025, the Minister stressed the importance of creating marine protected areas and conducting thorough environmental impact assessments in waters beyond national borders.
Community Reactions
Though delivered on the international stage, the implications of Minister Kubayi’s speech resonated back home. Coastal communities, legal scholars, and environmental organisations have long called for stronger marine governance and international cooperation.
“Her message brings hope to small fishing communities who rely on the sea, and to young legal minds who want to see justice reach our oceans,” said Zanele Maphumulo, a marine law researcher at the University of Fort Hare.
