Community honours judge in spectacular fashion

The Pretoria Legacy Foundation (PLF) hosted a magnificent celebratory evening to honour its vice chairperson in Laudium, Centurion, earlier this month.

The Constitutional Court judge, Justice Jody Kollapen, was feted and honoured in style by the foundation and local community, after his recent appointment to the apex court, said spokesperson of the foundation, Ismail Abramjee.

“Several high-ranking dignitaries and heads of court attended the colourful event that kicked off with a ceremonial display by the Pretoria Muslim Brigade.

“The crowd rose spontaneously to their feet in rapturous applause as the popular and much-loved judge was escorted into the auditorium by members of the brigade.”

Abramjee said crowds of people from various communities attended the function and many more from the neighbouring precinct lined the streets to pay tribute to one of its finest sons.

“Justice Kollapen is highly regarded among his community and they spared no effort to honour him by celebrating his successes with much song and dance.

“The auditorium stage was elegantly decked out in its finest livery befitting the prestigious event.”

Abramjee said the audience was entertained by fine performances of classical Indian dancing at its best.

“A rising local musical star, Yuneil Padayachee, belted out some of the guest of honours’ favourite songs with his saxophone. The audience was completely enthralled as the attendant band continued playing late into the night.

“The popular justice and former human rights lawyer was introduced on stage by two of his daughters: one a medical doctor, and the other, an advocate.”

Abramjee said Justice Kollapen delivered one of his finest speeches to date.

“He spoke with great emotion and from the heart. He traced back his humble beginnings. His father was a waiter and his mother was a struggle activist who took part in the 1956 woman’s march to the Union Buildings.

“He honoured the very same community that came to honour him. This was testimony to his incredible personality, as a humble and caring person. It was this type of humility that earned him the endearment of his community. He reminisced about his life, family and career and his often witty and humorous anecdotes had the crowd in stitches.”

Abramjee said Kollapen traced his life and career from Cowie Street in Marabastad, where he grew up, to his current post on Constitutional Hill, where the country’s highest court is located.

“The Pretoria Legacy Foundation bestowed its highest award to one of their own and also recognised the achievements of another judge from the same community.

“Judge Harshila Kooverjie, who was recently appointed to the bench of the High Court in Pretoria, was also honoured at the function,” said Abramjee.

He said it’s a remarkable coincidence that both judges live just a street away from each other in the nearby suburb of Claudius, near Laudium.

“A tribute to the late Chief Justice Ismail Mahomed, who also hailed from the same community, was delivered by his niece, Aneesa who heads up a big legal firm in the capital.”

Abramjee said the prestigious event was even more significant in that both the Judge President Dunston Mlambo and the Deputy Judge President, Aubrey Ledwaba, of the Gauteng Division of the High Court were both in attendance.

“So too was the recently retired Judge President of the KZN division, Achmat Japie. As well as several other acting judges also graced the occasion, as did several members of the legal fraternity, the NPA, politicians, civil society leaders, industrialists and businessmen.”

According to Abramjee, this event was the first significant community event since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic “and probably one of the most important post-democracy functions in the area”.

He thanked all those that attended and especially the community for ensuring the the event was the huge success that it was.

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