A life of sacrifice for SA

ON Friday, South Africa bade farewell to a great legal mind and a true patriot, Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke who has now retired from the bench. Moseneke has served the nation with great distinction and dedication — both as an anti-apartheid activist and a jurist.

As a 15-year-old, Moseneke was sentenced to 10 years on Robben Island for his political activities. Since then, he has been the embodiment of the ’60s slogan of his erstwhile political party, the PAC: “Serve, Suffer, Sacrifice.”

When apartheid finally collapsed, Moseneke was one of the architects of the new political dispensation. By then it was clear to all that his outlook was beyond narrow party-political interests and that he was destined to play a far greater role in a free South Africa.

It was, therefore, no mistake that he became the second-in-charge at the Independent Electoral Commission as the body prepared for the first democratic elections.

But it was as a jurist that Moseneke excelled. Even when he was overlooked several times for the post of chief justice, Moseneke carried out his duty as a Constitutional Court judge with honour and dignity.

Today the court is regarded as one of our democracy’s greatest attributes and Moseneke has played no small part in making that happen. At a time when other democratic institutions seemed to be under relentless attack from those who seek to weaken our constitutional democracy for their selfish ends, Moseneke was at the forefront of those who — through professionalism — refused to surrender the South African dream of a society where all are equal before the law.

As he heads for retirement, we salute this true servant of the people.