Pretoria - The Premier of the Eastern Cape, Noxolo Kiviet, has conveyed her deepest sympathy to both the Langa family and the entire legal fraternity following the passing of former Chief Justice Pius Langa.
“We will remember Judge Pius Langa as a legal eagle and compatriot, who dedicated his entire life to strengthening the democratic values of our nation. He was also one of the architects of our Constitution, which is the envy of the global community today.
“He was never driven by the prestige of his chosen career but by the desire to protect the rights of all South Africans. The mark he has left will never be extinguished,” said Kiviet in a statement.
Langa, 74, died on Wednesday after being admitted to a Johannesburg hospital for about a month due to illness.
President Jacob Zuma earlier conveyed a message of condolences to the family of Justice Langa.
Together with 10 other judges, Langa was appointed to the then newly-established Constitutional Court of South Africa at the advent of a post-apartheid constitutional and democratic order in 1994, as one of its first judges.
He became its Deputy President in August 1997 and in November 2001, assumed the position of Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa.
He was appointed as the country’s Chief Justice, the Chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission and Head of the Constitutional Court with effect from June 2005 until his retirement in October 2009.
Even on retirement, Justice Langa continued to serve his country and the people of South Africa, becoming Chairperson of the Press Freedom Commission, which sought to advance excellence in the professional and ethical conduct of journalists and media houses. – SAnews.gov.za
