Former KZN Judge President Achmat Jappie dies at 70

The South African Judiciary is mourning the passing of former KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Achmat Naeem Jappie, who died on Wednesday at the age of 70 following a short illness.

His funeral was also held on Wednesday at the 45th Cutting Soofie Bhaijaan Hall, where family, friends, and members of the legal fraternity gathered to pay their final respects.

Jappie was widely regarded as a respected jurist whose legal career spanned decades. He was appointed to the bench in 1998 and later rose through the ranks to serve as Deputy Judge President. In June 2015, he was appointed Judge President of the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court.

In the same year, he briefly served as an acting judge at the Constitutional Court of South Africa from February to March, further cementing his standing within the judiciary.

Throughout his career, Jappie presided over several notable matters in both the High Court and the Labour Appeal Court. He also played a key oversight role as chairperson of the Judicial Conduct Tribunal, where he led proceedings into allegations of misconduct against members of the bench.

He retired from active service about four years ago, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, fairness, and dedication to justice. Tributes continue to pour in, with colleagues remembering him as a principled leader who made a lasting contribution to South Africa’s legal system.