Legal fraternity pay homage to Justice Dukada

SILENCE descended over the courts yesterday as a large number of mourners from the legal fraternity gathered to bid a final farewell to Justice Duncan Zolani “DZ” Dukada.

Dukada, 61, died in East London on June 4 after undergoing an operation.

He was born in Nqabarha administrative area in Willowvale and attended various schools in the former Transkei.

After passing matric in 1972, Dukada started out as a school clerk before occupying the positions of prosecutor, attorney, magistrate, advocate, lecturer after obtaining a B Juris degree at the University of Fort Hare in 1978.

Notable mourners attending the funeral service at the John Wesley Methodist Church, were Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, national director of public prosecutions (NDPP) Mxolisi Nxasana, Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza SC, Eastern Cape Judge President Themba Sangoni, and Black Lawyers’ Association (BLA) president Busani Mabunda.

Although the mood was sombre, mourners celebrated the passing of a father figure who left a rich legacy behind.

In his eulogy, Dukada’s brother, Nkosinathi Dukada, said the family was forever grateful to him. “He was always good news to everybody whenever he was around,” he said.

Ntsebeza said Dukada’s commitment to human rights was “unquestionable” and his full story had yet to be told.

Dukada played a central role in secret meetings of black activist lawyers to “strategise” against illegal detentions and mysterious deaths of political activists pre-democracy, he said. “He was a thorn in the flesh of the apartheid and Transkei regime,” said Ntsebeza.

Dukada is survived by his wife, Hlombekazi Mantyi, three sons, one daughter and grandchild. — loyisom@