The two-day National Indaba on the Legal Services Charter was held on 17 & 18 August 2006 at the Sandton Convention Centre. The aim of the Charter is to address the transformation of the Legal Sector.

Addressing the packed Conference Justice Minister Ms B Mabandla said that special measures are needed if the issues are to be addressed. "The largest and most profitable firms are white led and owned, and the least successful are individual practices owned mostly by black South Africans," she said.

"Accordingly the Charter process should inspire us to proceed with determination towards the transformation of the legal sector for the good of all our people. The process will not only enrich the transformation process in the legal sector, but will be good for the whole country" she continued.

"The ideals we seek to achieve through the transformation of the legal sector are underpinned by a resilient struggle for freedom by some of South Africa 's best legal luminaries. We count on many great lawyers who sacrificed their lives and life comforts during the struggle to pave the way to a just and transformed society. These luminaries include, Nelson Mandela, O.R. Tambo, Sissie Gool, Shulamith Muller, Duma Nokwe, Godfrey Pitje, Dullah Omar, Ismael Mohamed, Griffiths and Victoria Mxenge."

The plenary sessions were followed by several breakaway sessions, where issues were brainstormed; amongst others, access to justice, Empowerment of Historically disadvantaged black legal practitioners and the challenges facing the current Governance structures of the Legal Profession.

Following the first day of the National Indaba, was the prestigious Gala Dinner attended by Dignitaries, amongst others Honorable Chief Justice Pius Langa, Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, Judge Bernard Ngoepe, Professor Kadar Asmal, Constitutional Court Judge Y Mokgoro Judge A Sachs, Ms Fatima Chohan, Advocate Menzi Simelane, Regional Court President Mr. W G Pruis, Professor Jan Otto, Judge LP Tlaletsi, Judge FC Bam and Judge MTR Mogoeng.

After the National Indaba, the Department is envisaging further engagements with the draft charter in the form of provincial road shows in major centres. These attempts should also be seen as consultative processes, thereby giving an opportunity to members of the legal services sector, the public, and the legal profession who were unable to attend the National Indaba to provide their inputs. Consultative processes will be ongoing until the adoption of the charter by the relevant stakeholders and the profession.