Pretoria: Chief Justice Mandisa Maya has, on behalf of the Judiciary, expressed condolences to the family of Justice Fikile Eunice Mokgohloa, Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), following her death. Mokgohloa died following a long illness.
According to South African Government News Agency, Chief Justice Maya stated, "The Judiciary has lost a valued colleague and an accomplished jurist. Justice Mokgohloa served with dignity, discipline and a deep sense of responsibility to the law. Her passing is a painful loss to all of us who had the privilege of knowing and working with her. Her judicial record stands as part of the enduring contribution she made to the development of South African law."
The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) described her passing as a 'profound loss to the Judiciary, the legal profession and the people of South Africa.' It further added that Justice Mokgohloa leaves behind a 'judicial legacy marked by intellectual rigour, diligence, independence and an unwavering commitment to the administration of justice.'
Justice Mokgohloa began her judicial career at the Northern Cape Division, Kimberley High Court in 2006. She was later appointed as Acting Judge in the same court before becoming a judge of the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court in November 2008. She later served in the Limpopo Division and was appointed Deputy Judge President of that Division in 2016. During this period, she also served in an acting capacity in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), where she gained further experience at the appellate level.
In June 2019, Justice Mokgohloa was appointed to the SCA by President Cyril Ramaphosa, following a recommendation by the Judicial Service Commission. Her appointment was part of an important period of renewal and transformation of the appellate bench. She made notable contributions to South African jurisprudence while at the SCA, with her judgments reflecting careful engagement with the law, the facts, and the constitutional principles that underpin the administration of justice.
Among the matters in which she participated were cases concerning constitutional and administrative law, traditional leadership, criminal justice, commercial disputes, and the enforcement of legal rights. She contributed to the leadership of the Supreme Court and acted as the Deputy President of the SCA in 2024.
The Chief Justice extends her deepest condolences to Justice Mokgohloa's family, friends, colleagues, and all those who worked with her throughout her distinguished career. At this time of profound grief, the Judiciary stands with her family and honours the life and service of a judicial officer who devoted many years to the pursuit of justice.