Pius Langa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pius Langa
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Chief Justice of South Africa | |
| In office June 2005 – October 2009 |
|
| Appointed by | Thabo Mbeki |
| Deputy | Dikgang Moseneke |
| Preceded by | Arthur Chaskalson |
| Succeeded by | Sandile Ngcobo |
| Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa | |
| In office November 2001 – June 2005 |
|
| Appointed by | Thabo Mbeki |
| Succeeded by | Dikgang Moseneke |
| Deputy President of the Constitutional Court of South Africa | |
| In office August 1997 – November 2001 |
|
| Preceded by | Ismail Mahomed |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as Deputy Chief Justice) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Pius Nkonzo Langa
25 March 1939 Bushbuckridge, Transvaal, South Africa |
| Died | 24 July 2013 (aged 74) Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Relations | Bheki Winston Joshua Langa (brother) Mandla Langa (brother), Ben Langa (brother), Thandekile Mncwabe (wife) |
| Alma mater | University of South Africa |
| Occupation | Judge |
Pius Nkonzo Langa (25 March 1939 – 24 July 2013) was a very important judge in South Africa. He served as the Chief Justice of South Africa, which is the highest judge in the country. He was part of the Constitutional Court, which makes sure that laws follow the country's main rule book, the Constitution.
Pius Langa was first appointed as a judge in 1994 by Nelson Mandela. Later, he became the Deputy Chief Justice in 2001. In 2005, Thabo Mbeki made him the Chief Justice. He retired in October 2009 and sadly passed away in 2013 at the age of 74 after being ill for some time.
Contents
A Life in Law
Early Life and Education
Pius Langa was born on 25 March 1939 in a place called Bushbuckridge, in what was then the Transvaal Province. He worked in a shirt factory for a few years, from 1957 to 1960. After that, he found a job as an interpreter and messenger for the Department of Justice.
He studied hard and earned his first law degree from the University of South Africa in 1973. He then got another law degree in 1976. He kept working his way up in the justice system, becoming a prosecutor and then a magistrate.
Becoming a Judge
In 1977, Pius Langa became an advocate, which is a type of lawyer who represents people in court. He worked in Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal). By 1994, he became a Senior Counsel, which means he was a very experienced and respected advocate.
He was also a founding member of a group called the National Association of Democratic Lawyers. He worked with the African National Congress Constitutional Committee. Here, he helped write a draft of the country's Bill of Rights, which later became a key part of the South African Constitution. This Bill of Rights protects the basic rights of all people in South Africa.
When the Constitutional Court was created in 1994, after the end of apartheid (a system of unfair laws), Justice Langa was one of the first ten judges chosen for this new court.
Leading the Court
Justice Langa continued to rise through the ranks. In 1997, he became the Deputy President of the Constitutional Court. Then, in 2001, he became the Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa.
Finally, in June 2005, he was appointed as the country's Chief Justice. This meant he was the head of the entire Constitutional Court. He served in this important role until he retired in October 2009.
Pius Langa passed away on 24 July 2013, at the Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg. He was 74 years old and had been ill for a while.
Special Recognition
In April 2008, Justice Langa received a very special award called the Order of the Baobab in Gold. This award was given to him for his "exceptional service in law, constitutional jurisprudence and human rights." It showed how much his work in law, understanding the Constitution, and protecting human rights was valued.
