The work of the Centre has received interest and recognition from throughout the country and from international observers.

  • The late Professor Tony Mathews (the founder and first Director of CCJ) was given an honorary doctorate of law at the University of the Witwatersrand for his commitment to justice and human rights for all in South Africa. (1993) He was a Fellow of Clear Hall, Cambridge University.

  • In 1999, Winnie was nominated to the Ashoka fellowship, for her work in justice and human rights. Undergoing the rigorous and multileveled selection process, Winnie was recognised as a leading innovator within her field, and joins over sixty other fellows in the Southern Africa.

    Founded in 1980, Ashoka is a world association of leading social entrepreneurs and has pioneered a new social investment approach to advance the emerging profession of social entrepreneurship. Since its inception, Ashoka has invested in more than 1200 Ashoka fellows in over forty-two countries around the world, and is the first global association of and for leading social entrepreneurs (http://www.ashoka.org).

  • CCJ Director, Winnie Kubayi, receiving and award Winnie Kubayi, Director of CCJ received a Platinum Impumelelo Innovations Award (2001) for providing access to justice for women and children within KwaZulu-Natal. This award seeks to recognise innovations in government and public-private partnerships that reduce poverty and address key developmental issues of national concern.

  • The CCJ awarded Outreach Centre Co-ordinators, Zandile Khanyile and Theresa Thusi certificates of excellence in 2001 and 2002 respectively. The insights and contributions of the outreach centre coordinators are valuable because they interface and interact with their communities on a daily basis.

  • Winnie also received a Special Award for a graduate and employee of the University of Natal who has contributed significantly to the field of work engaged in at the University by the Convocation of the University of Natal (2002). The award honours those alumni who personify the university's tradition of excellence, thereby bringing distinction to themselves and their alma mater through their outstanding achievements.

  • The Centre won the third annual Age of Innovation and Sustainability Award, in the category of "Excellence in Innovation & sustainability: Public Sector/NGO". This award aims to identify South Africa's most innovative and sustainable initiatives, projects and undertakings.

    The Age of Innovation and Sustainability Awards Campaign (AIS) The Age of Innovation and Sustainability Awards Campaign (AIS) has as its objective identifying South Africa's most innovative and sustainable initiatives, projects and undertakings. The Campaign manifesto is to celebrate the entrepreneurial and creative spirit of South Africa by identifying those individuals or organisations that have applied what is referred to as "beyond-the-box" thinking as a means of adding sustainable value (http://www.axius.co.za).

    The T-Systems Age of Innovation and Sustainability Awards 2003, (AIS) is presented by Axius Publishing and the Da Vinci Institute for Technology Management, with key sponsor international IT solutions company T-Systems.

  • The Innovation Awards Programme The Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI) Inaugural Award was bestowed on the Centre for Criminal Justice for contributing to improved delivery of services to South African citizens in 2003.

    The Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI) was established in September 2001 to identify, support and nurture innovation. The Innovation Awards Programme attempts to meet two of the four aspects of the CPSI mission, through rewarding initiatives and sharing knowledge. The CPSI Awards is an initiative of the Minister for Public Service and Administration (http://www.cpsi.co.za).