"The formation of this new and magnificent structure also gave us the opportunity to encourage and celebrate the creative talent of our people. It provided the time and space for the architects, workers in the plastic arts and landscape gardeners to give free rein to their imagination. And thus it has made the statement that all human beings have a soul, and are miraculous creations that are more than mere law-governed animals"

- President Thabo Mbeki, at the official opening of the Constitution Hill complex on 21 March 2004

"Public buildings normally shut off the outside world. Normally you get swallowed up in the power of the state or corporate entity, but here the building is saying, 'I belong to you, you belong to me' "

- Justice Albie Sachs

"The building design was not about style but a value system enshrined in the Bill of Rights and the response to physical aspects of the site"

- Janina Masojada, one of the principal architects

"The design … has the potential to express a new architecture which is rooted in the South African landscape, both physically and culturally ... more likely to succeed in revealing African trends than a self conscious application of traditional stylistic elements or borrowing from European or historical building precedents"

- the architecture competition's judges, as quoted by Jeff Radebe, the Minister of Public Works, at the announcement of the winning bid

"If we understand the injustices suffered by women in the women's section of the Old Fort Prison, we will understand why the promotion of gender equality is important for our country to move forward. The same applies to the rights of children, the elderly and people with disabilities"

- Mbhazima Shilowa, the premier of Gauteng, on opening the complex with Mbeki

"People are coming from all over the world, but particularly Africa, to learn about our Constitution, so we want to cater for that and for them to observe the operation of our Constitutional Court which, like our Constitution, is an example to the world"

- Paul Wygers, one of the building's architects

"The Constitutional Court building, indeed the entire Constitutional Hill precinct, will also stand as a beacon of light, a symbol of hope and celebration. Transforming a notorious icon of repression into its opposite, it will ease the memories of suffering inflicted in the dark corners, cells and corridors of the Old Fort Prison. Rising from the ashes of that ghastly era, it will shine forth as a pledge for all time that South Africa will never return to that abyss. It will stand as an affirmation that South Africa is indeed a better place
for all"

- Nelson Mandela, the former president, at the ceremony to announce the winner of the competition