JOHANNESBURG – We are deeply saddened to announce the death of former Constitutional Court Justice and ICJ Commissioner Yvonne Mokgoro, who passed away on May 9, 2024 at the age of 73.
Justice Mokgoro made history in 1994 as the first black woman judge in the country, following her appointment by President Nelson Mandela in the first Constitutional Court bench of South Africa. She has been described by Judges Matter as a “trailblazer who paved the way for women lawyers”.
She set an example for judges and human rights lawyers, inspiring in particular women and the younger generation, whom she devoted herself to training.
After her retirement from the bench in 2009, she continued to play important roles in legal and civil society circles at home and abroad, actively engaging in public interest work. She chaired the South African Law Reform Commission and served on the benches of both Lesotho and Namibia. She was a member of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport, chaired the UN Internal Justice Council, and was chairperson of the International Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law.
Her contribution has been decisive in advancing human rights such as gender and racial equality, both in her own country and internationally. She will be truly missed, but her legacy won’t be forgotten.