An analysis of professor Lourens du Plessis’ early (pro-life) and later (prochoice) perspectives on abortion
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Date
2016
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nelson Mandela University
Abstract
Abortion, or termination of pregnancy, albeit in gradations from most to less
restrictive to unrestricted, has always been legally allowed in South Africa. This
questions the need for the introduction of new law. Legalisation of abortion has
reduced abortion to a form of failed contraception. Illegal abortions motivated new
law, as well as research, Professor Lourens Marthinus du Plessis’
1 constitutional
argument favouring women’s (reproductive) right to abortion. Yet, illegal abortions
continue as before democracy when the seemingly Christian, racially-motivated law,
was flouted by white and black women alike. The Constitution adopts a neutral
position on the right to life, but is decidedly pro-abortion. This does not imply that a
constitutional challenge, which has yet to occur, seeking to amend the current status
quo and to provide protection to an unborn, may be an exercise in futility. This article
is written in honour of, and analyses the role and early “pro-life” views of the now
retired Du Plessis as a white Afrikaner male, husband, father and proud grandfather,
schooled in a traditional, conservative strand of Christianity, and as an anti-apartheid
constitutional lawyer and drafter – to determine whether his liberal political views are
compatible with his moral views and whether they may have since changed.
Description
Keywords
Abortion, Early(Pro-life), Pregnancy, Later(Pro choice), South Africa, Legalisation of abortion
Citation
Moosa, N. (2016). An analysis of professor Lourens du Plessis’ early (pro-life) and later (prochoice) perspectives on abortion. Obiter 37 (2), 325-345