Juju’s right hand legal man

POLOKWANE – He loves it when a plan comes together. He loves it when he wins a case. He loves his job.

Even in 10 years Tumi Mokwena will love doing just what he is doing now: being an attorney. It’s his passion and if he had to choose again, he would want his life just as it is today, doing the same job. Whether it is a case heard in high court or a circuit court in a rural area, all his clients are treated the same; all are equally important.

He has no ideals of going into politics either.

“My life is on a very public stage now, and one can succeed or fail. I can fail on a very public stage, or I can succeed on a very public stage. It’s knowing what life is all about, and I cannot take disappointment home.”

Being in the limelight now has its pro’s and con’s: he is realistic and knows the consequences of winning and losing cases.

Representing Julius Malema or Rameez Patel – some cases you win, some you lose. Asking him if he would take on any case he says yes. “I am not a priest who listens to people’s confessions, I am a defence lawyer, I will represent anyone, irrespective. It’s about the rules of the game; who plays the game better.”

He is a vegan, stubborn, his mom was an English teacher who this year went on pension and he lost his dad when still very young. “My dad was a carpenter, but he must have been a very good one, because he bought my mom a beautiful house in the 1970’s, in which she still lives.”

He describes his mother as intelligent and encouraging, and says he grew up with books being everywhere, making reading come naturally.

Tumi grew up in Seshego. He studied law at the then University of Durban-Westville, and knew since he was five- or six-years-old that he would become a lawyer some day.

“A friend of my parents, Machaka, was a lawyer and he used to visit us. I was impressed by him, he was the perfect gentleman. He advised me on the best school and where to study. It was the only time I went away from Polokwane; when I had to do my articles I returned. I have a vibrant and busy practice.” He completed his articles working with some of the finest legal minds, he said.

He finds his inspiration in reading, is married with four children: two girls and two boys. Asked for his take on lobola, he says it is a cultural thing, a traditional thing and yes, although living in enlightened times, he will one day accept lobola for his girls, “although it is a symbolic thing only,” he says.

His decision to vote EFF came from admiring the ethics of Solomon Mahlangu, an MK cadre who was young when he was sent to the gallows for his political views. Before his death sentence was executed, he told his mother to tell his people that he loved them, and that his blood must nourish the revolution.

“He did not think about himself or his own, he though about his people and nationalism.”

Tumi admires Mahlangu for living and dying for the greater good, choosing the greater moral duty and to to be morally upright.

“I detest the corruption that is rife now in the ANC and decided not to go there. It was a simple decision. The EFF has a just agenda,” he says.

Tumi looks after himself, loves reading and watching sport, holidaying in Camps Bay in the Western Cape and visiting wine farms. He loves a good red wine.

To keep fit he plays golf, jogs, plays table tennis and tennis. He is learning to play the guitar, but admits to not having a good singing voice. “My mom used to tell me to shut up! She said I was assaulting her ears. And my voice was fair!”