Justice Mokgohloa, a pioneer for African Women in the Judiciary

The late Supreme Court of Appeal jurist, Justice Fikile Mokgohloa , has been described as a pioneer who paved the way for African women in the judiciary.

Mokgohloa was laid to rest in a Special Official Funeral Category Two service in Pretoria on Saturday.

Mokgohloa died last week following a battle with cancer.

A Police Ceremonial Guard of Honour led by female officers was part of the service.

Friends and family described Mokgohloa as a passionate jurist.

“Mama loved the law; she lived for her job, she loved her job, to the point that even when I could see she was having a bad day, I would just ask her a question relating to the law and I would see her face just light up.

We would listen like for hours and hours to her explaining with such passion…but above all else, she loved the community; she loved helping people,” says Mohau Mokgohloa, her son.

In 2000, Mokgohloa launched a street law project where she taught communities about the legal system and how to access it.

Mourners also described Mokgohloa’s professional progression as a demonstration that with hard work, previously disadvantaged individuals can have prosperous careers.

“We are also here to celebrate that the girl from Mamelodi, born in 1961 at the height of apartheid, managed to obtain her B juris and LLB degree and rose to become a justice at the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Her accomplishments are an inspiration to other women and girls because she made it in a male-dominated judiciary system, breaking stereotypes.” says Mmamoloko Kubayi, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister.

Chief Justice Mandisa Maya says Mokgohlao’s death after battling cancer demonstrates the urgent need to prioritize judicial wellness.

“We are only now coming to realize the importance of taking care of this concept of judicial wellness because a number of us have failing health and Justice Mokgohloa unfortunately was one of the victims where she is a statistic.

What she suffered from I have no doubt in my mind, lay person that I am, was aggravated by stress of this job, but like the true soldier that she was she soldiered on, never complained as she was undergoing chemotherapy in between hearings without a single whimper of complaint until she could not do it anymore.