Cowriter of constitution Du Plessis dies

Professor Lourens Marthinus du Plessis, well-known legal academic and cowriter of the constitution and Bill of Rights, has died.

A research professor at the North-West University, Du Plessis was a gentle giant and a peacemaker during the turbulent period of political transition in South Africa, said Leon Wessels, a former minister in the National Party.

Wessels, who worked alongside Du Plessis and President Cyril Ramaphosa, produced the draft constitution and Bill of Rights that ushered in a new South Africa. Du Plessis, 71, died of natural causes on Saturday in Johannesburg.

“I knew him quite well as we were both students at the same university,” Wessels said.

“He was a gentle giant, so soft spoken. You can imagine in that turbulent period where he had to interact with all political parties ... the professor stood out as a caring South African. He wouldn’t have succeeded in that demanding job if he wasn’t caring.

“He had respect for everyone, and wherever there was a conflict, he was the peacemaker, without abandoning his principles. What a gentleman.”

Referring to text from one of Du Plessis’ collaborative books detailing the work behind the draft constitution, Wessels said: “The period between May and November (1995) was the busiest, most frustrating and also exhilarating period in their working lives.

“You can imagine the writing of the Bill of Rights and how taxing it would be on their energy and intellect, but professor and the team did it excellently. He had a wealth of experience on law and governance.”

According to the NWU website, Du Plessis penned many academic books and more than 108 scholarly journals.

A highly accomplished academic, he also presented 42 papers internationally and 65 at national conferences and meetings.

Du Plessis was also professor and head of the department of jurisprudence at NWU and professor extraordinaire of comparative and public international law at the University of the Western Cape. He was also founding editor of the Stellenbosch Law Review and a former president of the Southern African Law Teachers Association.

He leaves behind wife Wina and three daughters, Carien, Anne and Elmien, six grandchildren and his sister Retha.

– News24 Wire

He had respect for everyone. Wherever there was a conflict, he was peacemaker.

Leon Wessels Former National Party minister