By Lebone Rodah Mosima
Retired KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Achmat Naeem Jappie died this week, Chief Justice Mandisa Maya said, describing him as a distinguished jurist who served South Africa with honour and integrity.
Jappie was born in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape and moved to Durban shortly afterwards, where he lived until his death.
Maya said he was appointed to the Bench in 1998 and went on to serve for more than two decades.
During his judicial career, Jappie served as Deputy Judge President before later being appointed Judge President of the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court. He also served as an acting judge of the Constitutional Court and had a short stint at the Labour Appeal Court, the Judiciary said.
The Judiciary said Jappie was widely admired for his calm temperament, fairness, humility and commitment to justice, and was respected by colleagues, legal practitioners and court users for his integrity and deep knowledge of the law.
Following his retirement in 2021, he continued to serve the country, including as chairperson of a Judicial Conduct Tribunal.
“His passing is a great loss to the Judiciary and the legal profession,” Maya said in a statement.
She extended condolences to his wife, Judge Soraya Hassim, his children, family, friends, colleagues and others touched by his life and service.
President Cyril Ramaphosa also paid tribute to Jappie, saying he had been a longstanding champion of justice through his contribution to South African jurisprudence and the administration of the courts.
In a message on X, Ramaphosa said he also appreciated Jappie’s service on tribunals dealing with judicial conduct and said the retired judge had helped entrench the rule of law.
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