President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the late former Constitutional Court Justice Yvonne Mokgoro as a formidable intellect and impeccable jurist who played a role in transforming the country’s legal system.
Ramaphosa said Mokgoro’s insight as a black female judge and academic helped shape the lives of thousands of people in their legal careers.
“Justice Mokgoro’s passing deprives our nation of a formidable intellect and impeccable jurist who served our democracy at its very inception and through the years that followed.
“As we recall the inauguration of our founding President Nelson Mandela 30 years ago on this day, 10 May, we count his appointment of Justice Mokgoro to the Constitutional Court as one of the critical, transformative decisions he exercised in those early days of our liberation.
Contributed to transformation
“As a black female judge, she was a pioneering embodiment of and contributor to the transformation of our country and the legal system. [As well as] a new jurisprudence that enabled this transformation.
“Justice Mokgoro distinguished herself as an academic and a justice of our apex court. As chairperson of the South African Law Commission and strategic advisor to a diversity of boards in different sectors,” said Ramaphosa.
“Her insightful and principled counsel lives on in the thousands of legal careers she shaped in the course of her academic endeavours. She has left us under very tragic circumstances. And we therefore join the family in their sadness and in their prayers that this beloved mother, patriot, leader and citizen of the globe will rest in peace.”
Condolences to husband, family
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said on behalf of the government, Ramaphosa offered his deep condolences to Mokgoro’s husband, Professor Job Mokgoro. Also to Mokgoro’s immediate and extended family, as well as her many associates in the legal fraternity in South Africa and abroad.
Mokgoro died on Thursday afternoon around 5pm at a Johannesburg hospital.
She was involved in a serious car accident in April last year in the Northern Cape.
In the same year, Mokgoro was later discharged from a private hospital in Kimberley and flown to a Johannesburg hospital in an emergency.
It was at this hospital where she met her untimely death on Thursday.
Mokgoro was a judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa from its inception in 1994 until the end of her 15-year term in 2009.
She obtained a Bachelor of Jurisprudence (B Juris) degree at the then University of Bophuthatswana (now North-West University) in 1982. Two years later she obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). In 1987 she obtained a Master of Laws (LLM) degree.
Impressive legal career
Mokgoro also studied at the University of Pennsylvania in the US, where she obtained a second LLM degree in 1990.
Throughout her legal career, she taught a number of courses. These include Constitutional Law, Human Rights Law Jurisprudence and History of Law. She also taught Comparative Law, Criminal Law, Private Law and Customary Law. These at a number of universities in South Africa, the UK, the US and the Netherlands.
Mokgoro wrote and presented papers and participated in a myriad national and international conferences. Also seminars and workshops in South Africa and internationally. This was mainly in sociological jurisprudence and particularly on human rights and customary law. Her teachings focused on the impact of law on society generally, and on women and children specifically.
In 2015, Mokgoro was inducted as a Member of the Order of the Baobab in Bronze for her excellent contribution in the field of law. Also for her role in administration of justice in a democratic South Africa.
The chairperson of parliament’s portfolio committee on Justice and Correctional Services, Bulelani Magwanishe paid tribute. He described Mokgoro as a dedicated servant towards achieving justice in the country.
Dedicated servant
“South Africa has truly lost a principled, dedicated servant whose commitment to justice was widely known and respected. I send my condolences to the family, friends, legal fraternity, and the country as a whole. …This has hopefully paved the way for every black girl child dreaming of entering the profession, that all is possible.
“I wish the entire Mokgoro family strength during this very difficult time. South Africa mourns with you. We have truly lost a great, dedicated jurist. May her soul rest in eternal peace,” said Magwanishe.
