Justice Yvonne Mokgoro, a trailblazer, was a member of the first Constitutional Court bench and its first black woman judge. Even after her retirement in 2009, she continued to play pivotal roles in legal and civil society circles, demonstrating her unwavering dedication and resilience.
The Mokgoro and Buffel families announced her passing “with great sadness” in a statement on Thursday afternoon, saying their beloved sister, mother and grandmother died in hospital surrounded by her loving family.
Mokgoro was involved in a severe car accident near Kimberley in April 2023, which resulted in further health setbacks. She was subsequently forced to step back from public engagements.
She chaired the South African Law Reform Commission and served on both Lesotho and Namibia benches. She was a member of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport and chaired the United Nations Internal Justice Council.
Mokgoro took on significant responsibility as chairperson of the International Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law.
“In addition to these professional contributions, Justice Mokgoro devoted much time and energy towards nurturing the next generation of lawyers and leaders, both as a board member of the Mandela-Rhodes Trust and through her involvement in teaching around the world,” according to the family’s statement.
“Our family, and the country at large, has lost a principled servant, whose commitment to justice will continue to shape our society,” said her son, Ithateng Mokgoro.
“We remain grateful to all those who gave her support over the past difficult months, and we ask them to continue to hold the family in their thoughts and prayers.”
By staff writer
Pictured above: Justice Yvonne Mokgoro.
Image Source: Wikipedia
