Retired deputy chief justice’s kindness sets fine example
IT WOULD be remiss of me not to acknowledge a very significant act of patriotism by a man who has endeared himself as a true son of the South African soil.
Retired deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke, who chaired the Life Esidimeni hearings, has donated the fees he earned as arbitrator in this sad situation to the law faculty of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), to be used for well-performing law students.
This act of generosity reverberates as a lesson to many people whose sole intent is to amass wealth at any and all costs.
But importantly, it shows that we still have people in our midst who do care for the welfare and progress of our beautiful country.
As a proud alumni of my alma mater, I could not be happier at such a generous spirit of heart by a man whose conduct in his chosen field of endeavour was nothing short of exemplary.
UWC, during the height of the Struggle against apartheid, when it was veritably dubbed the “university of the intellectual Left”, played a pivotal role in this fight and produced many people of calibre whose contributions were invaluable.
The late ministers Dullah Omar (Justice) and Jakes Gerwel (minister in the Presidency and former vice-chancellor of UWC), who were eminent fighters against apartheid, have graced the portals of an academic institution that stands as a beacon of hope to all South Africans.
While the Life Esidimeni tragedy cost the taxpayers an estimated R47 million in terms of the hearings, this salutary act by the former deputy chief justice is reflective of the good that came of it.
It is a desideratum worthy of emulation by many public representatives who pay lip service to idealism but are reluctant to walk their talk. The almost R400 000 that was donated by Moseneke to the law faculty of UWC (who have matched this amount) will go a long way toward assisting those who stand for social justice, and it is hoped that the recipients of such financial help will take a leaf out of this act of unselfish devotion of a citizen who could well have enjoyed the fruits of his toil, but instead decided that there is a greater good that could be served better.
I salute former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke. His kind act makes me proud to be South African!