Highlights of former Chief Justice Pius Nkonzo Langa’s involvement with the Faculty of Law inter alia includes membership of the Steering Committee that organised the first African Human Rights Moot Court Competition in Harare in 1992; member of the Editorial Board of the African Human Rights Law Journal; keynote speaker at the Faculty Ball to celebrate the centenary of the University of Pretoria in 2008; a keynote speaker in the Faculty’s Prestige Lecture upon his retirement as Chief Justice during November 2009; and adjudicator of the 1st World Human Rights Moot Court Competition held at the University of Pretoria on 9 December 2009.

During his address at the Prestige Lecture for the four departing justices, Langa opened with an anecdote of how he had gone to former President Nelson Mandela to seek advice on exactly what it is ‘that retired people do’. Former First Lady Graça Machel told him that he was talking to the wrong man. Although light-hearted, the story shares a serious truth – that both these legal giants played an integral role for a better South Africa, and that men like these never retired from their devotion to the nation.

In its Prestige Lecture Series Programme of November 2009, the Faculty quotes excerpts from legendary judgments by former Chief Justice Langa: 

'Judicial action, truth-telling, reparations and institutional reform are each inadequate on their own to apprehend the past, and too narrow to advance the goals of the future. Used in intelligent unison, they may achieve the delicate balance needed to afford solace to those who have suffered, whilst simultaneously strengthening peace, democracy and justice for the future.  The conscious decision by the legislature was that amnesty would allow people not to be trapped in the painful past, but to be given a pardoned freedom to go forth and contribute to society. Amnesty may forgive the past, but in South Africa it is intended to have the inherently prospective effect of national reconciliation and nation-building, for the past can never be undone. Only the future may be forged as desired.'

- Du Toit v Minister for Safety and Security and Another (CCT91/09) [2009] ZACC 22 (18 August 2009)

and 

'Dignity and identity are inseparably linked as one’s sense of self-worth is defined by one’s identity.  Cultural identity is one of the most important parts of a person’s identity precisely because it flows from belonging to a community and not from personal choice or achievement.'

- MEC for Education Kwazulu-Natal: Thulani Cele School Liaison Officer v Navaneethum Pillay 2008 (2) BCLR 99 (CC) at para 53, p 115 – 116.

Former Chief Justice Pius Langa was appointed to the bench by former President Nelson Mandela in 1994, became Deputy Chief Justice in 2001 and was elevated to Chief Justice in 2005 by former President Thabo Mbeki.

Our deepest condolences to his family and all those who knew and admired him for his  commitment and contribution to equality, human rights, justice and transformation.