Justice Zukisa Tshiqi tribute

Justice Zukisa Tshiqi – A reflection by ZT’s final clerks

Written by: Karabo Mahlangu, Koketšo Molope & Ella Kennedy

Affectionately known amongst the clerks as “our Queen”, with her chambers fondly referred to as “Her Royal Highness’s chambers”, the nickname captures something deeply true about the woman behind the Judge. Justice Tshiqi is the very definition of grace and warmth and carries herself with an inspiring kind of quiet confidence and authority. Her presence filled the corridors of the Constitutional Court, yet beyond her stature as a Judge was a profoundly human, kind, humble, and generous person.

Justice Tshiqi is the very definition of grace and warmth and carries herself with an inspiring kind of quiet confidence and authority.

For us, her clerks, Justice Tshiqi created more than a professional environment; she created a home. Her chambers were a place of laughter, learning and care. She is fiercely funny (although she does not know it), warm in spirit, and always makes space for connection amid the intensity of judicial work. Justice Tshiqi’s well-known love for sweets on the bench became one of the many small rituals that made working with her so memorable. Whether during pre-hearing preparation or after a long day in court, she would briefly interrupt discussions to tell us stories from her years as a lawyer and on the bench, reflecting on the lessons she had learnt through her life’s rich experiences. These conversations were never merely anecdotes. They were moments of mentorship and wisdom that have shaped the way we think about the law, our careers and ourselves.

She had an extraordinary ability to make each of us feel seen and valued. She cared deeply about our growth and never hesitated to listen to our views.

Serving at the Constitutional Court alongside Justice Tshiqi was a once-in-a-lifetime gift and a life-changing opportunity. She had an extraordinary ability to make each of us feel seen and valued. She cared deeply about our growth and never hesitated to listen to our views. As young lawyers at the beginning of our careers, it was a real privilege to have the ear of such an accomplished individual. What mattered to her was whether we had thought carefully, honestly and rigorously about the issue at hand. She taught us that practising the law requires humility, the willingness to reassess, to ask difficult questions and to remain open to persuasion while staying anchored in principle.

As a judge, Justice Tshiqi embodied discipline and excellence. One of the lessons that will forever stay with us is her famous advice to “panic early”, this being code for “prepare early”. Beneath the humour was a profound commitment to preparation and diligence. No matter the simplicity or complexity of a matter, she immersed herself fully in each case, determined to understand every aspect of a matter before her. But what left us most in awe was not simply her intellect; it was her unwavering commitment to safeguarding our jurisprudence. She approached every case with precision, clarity and integrity, never allowing emotion, noise or public pressure to cloud the judicial task at hand. For her, the law demanded careful reasoning, principled decision-making and fidelity to the Constitution above all else.

She approached every case with precision, clarity and integrity, never allowing emotion, noise or public pressure to cloud the judicial task at hand. For her, the law demanded careful reasoning, principled decision-making and fidelity to the Constitution above all else.

At the same time, Justice Tshiqi never lost sight of the people behind the cases. Her commitment to human rights and social justice was evident not in grand declarations but in the seriousness and care with which she approached every matter. She understood the profound responsibility borne by the judiciary in South Africa’s constitutional democracy and carried that responsibility with dignity. Her judgments reflect a deep appreciation for the transformative promise of the Constitution, and the role courts play in protecting the rights and humanity of all who come before them.

While our Queen’s retirement marks the end of a remarkable chapter, her influence will endure far beyond the walls of “Her Royal Highness’s chamber”. It lives on in the jurisprudence she helped shape; in the many people she mentored, and in the values she instilled in those of us privileged enough to learn from her. We leave her chambers better lawyers, but more importantly, better people.

While she will always be “our Queen”, what we will remember most is not only her brilliance but also her humanity, the warmth in her laughter, the generosity of her spirit, and the unwavering example she set of what it means to serve justice with courage and compassion.