Curtain falls on Soweto’s legal eagle
Solly’s presence felt in the sphere of private law
Born: October 21 1951 Died: November 16 Funeral: Tomorrow at St John’s Anglican Parish, Orlando East in Soweto, from 7.30am Burial: Avalon Cemetery
Solomon Solly Nkatazo Makenna, who was soaked in the legal field as one of Soweto’s most accomplished attorneys, died last week after a prolonged illness.
Makenna matriculated at the Orlando High School in 1972 and later graduated with BProc degree at the University of the North [now University of Limpopo] in 1978.
He marked his presence in the sphere of private law, being a mentor to candidate and experienced attorneys while carving a career as a long-standing member of the Black Lawyers Association, serving articles under legendary Godfrey Pitje and later working under Ratha Mokgoatlheng legal practice.
His home at 416 Phatswayo Street in Zone 1 Diepkloof, Soweto, has been a centre for familial links and fostering inter-generational understanding through changing times.
Rooted in community experiences, the need for the importance of black professionals remaining a source of inspiration to those struggling to make ends meet was Makenna’s highlight.
Makenna bestowed a special kind of faith, care and love to members of his family to be fondly called “Socks”.
That he had a good heart and deep faith find expression in a message he used to send to his friends: “Our loving Father, we ask that we be people who seek to love one another deeply and sacrificially for this is how You love us. May our knowledge and experience of Your love transform the way we relate to others both in real life and online.
“Make us Your hands and feet so that we can serve the world and its hurting people and show them the nature of Your love for us. Amen.”
Friends Richard Makgatha and Thabo Mpakanyane remember him as a revered chairman of the University of the North’s all sports committee and an avid reader that saw him develop a habit of losing himself into espionage books interspersed with classic works.
Out of these classical works, Makenna derived a touching link between the kidney ailment he so bravely wrestled with and yet still had a heart to give within the limits of what his abilities could permit.
It was not without a fight that he is no more.
Makenna is survived by his three children and partner, Gcinekile Mofokeng.