Humour, hard work and equality are in his brief

Moseneke’s clerks — top law graduates assigned to his chambers — talk about the man under the robe

“HE has a very soft spot for females. This is obviously informed by the fact that his mother was a huge inspiration in his life. At one point he had only one female clerk and he looked at us all and said: ‘Is this my chamber? How did it happen that I have three males and one female?’ He doesn’t give hugs to guys — only to females. It’s good, because it shows he’s serious about transforming this profession, which has been dominated by males.” — David Modiba “I WISH people knew the things my judge says in chambers. On the bench he’s all business. He might crack a joke here and there, but the really nice jokes are in chambers. He’s hilarious. It’s a comfortable and enabling environment.” — Molebogeng Kekana “HE has proved you don’t have to be in politics and address rallies to be a person of the people. Even in a courtroom, with only judges and advocates present, you’re still addressing the nation. The nation still listens to you.” — David Modiba “HE works extremely hard. We can’t not keep up the pace, because we see the man leading by example. He starts early, and he keeps us working late.” — Anthea Christoffels “HE has always had a diverse group of clerks, from all races, from marginalised universities as well as top universities. That’s his modus operandi. He lives diversity and transformation.” — Hilton Packies “HE’s a complete South African. He can speak all 11 languages, with perfect accents. Some other judges, when they speak another language, can sound a bit coconuttish. But I was told he once presided in the Pretoria High Court in perfect Afrikaans.” — David Modiba “HE carries with him this presence of wisdom and knowledge and insight. And he empowers youngsters to take the baton and build on what his generation have built.” — Michelle Toxopeus