Zak Yacoob
Zak Yacoob | |
---|---|
Justice of the Constitutional Court | |
In office 1 February 1998 – 31 January 2013 | |
Appointed by | Nelson Mandela |
Succeeded by | Mbuyiseli Madlanga |
Personal details | |
Born | Zakeria Mohammed Yacoob 3 March 1948 Natal Province Union of South Africa |
Political party | African National Congress |
Spouse |
Anu Yacoob (m. 1970) |
Children | 2, including Seena Yacoob |
Alma mater | University of Durban-Westville |
Zakeria Mohammed "Zak" Yacoob (born 3 March 1948) is a retired South African
Yacoob was born in
He is well known for drafting the Constitutional Court's judgement in
Early life and education
Yacoob was born on 3 March 1948 in Durban in the former Natal Province.[1] His father was a Muslim cleric and he was classified as Indian under apartheid.[2][3] At the age of 16 months, he became blind due to meningitis,[4] and from 1956 to 1966, he attended the Arthur Blaxall School for the Blind in Durban.[1]
Thereafter, he attended University College on Durban's Salisbury Island (later the University of Durban-Westville), where he completed a BA in English and private law in 1969 and an LLB in 1972.[1] While a student, he became politically active in the anti-apartheid movement.[1]
Legal career
Yacoob served his
During the same period, Yacoob himself was personally active in the anti-apartheid movement. In 1980, when the Durban Committee of Ten was established amid a wave of local protests and a stringent government response, he became the committee's chairperson.[1][8] He was a member of the executive of the Durban Detainees' Support Committee from 1981 to 1985 and of the Durban Housing Action Committee from 1982 to 1985.[1] In addition, he was a member of the executive of the Natal Indian Congress from 1981 to 1991,[1] as well as a member of the United Democratic Front's Natal executive and of the ANC's underground structures.[2][9]
In the 1990s, Yacoob was involved in the
Constitutional Court: 1998–2013
In 1994, Yacoob applied unsuccessfully for a seat on the inaugural Constitutional Court of South Africa.[2] Four years later, in February 1998,[1] President Nelson Mandela appointed him to the court after the University of Natal nominated him for a new vacancy.[2] He served a full 15-year term on the bench, including a stint as acting Deputy Chief Justice in 2012 while Dikgang Moseneke was on leave.[10][11] He was a notoriously intimidating figure in the court's hearings, partly because of his impressive power of recall.[8] His handwriting inspired the Constitutional Court's official font.[9]
Despite his role in drafting the Constitution, Yacoob was opposed to an
After 15 years on the bench, Yacoob retired at the end of January 2013.[8] He was succeeded by Mbuyiseli Madlanga later that year.[13]
Retirement
In his retirement, Yacoob continued his public service in various capacities. In 2014, he led an independent "fact-finding" inquiry into allegations of serious misconduct at the
Meanwhile, during the presidency of Jacob Zuma, Yacoob publicly clashed with the ANC leadership.[19] In April 2016, following the Constitutional Court's judgement on the Nkandla saga in Economic Freedom Fighters v Speaker, Yacoob was among the anti-apartheid stalwarts who called publicly for Zuma to resign; he said that Zuma had "acted miserably, dishonestly and horribly".[20]
Personal life
In 1970, he married Anu Yacoob, with whom he had two children.[1][9] Their daughter, Seena Yacoob, is an advocate and High Court judge,[21] and their son is a scientist at the Large Hadron Collider.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Justice Zak Yacoob". Constitutional Court of South Africa. Archived from the original on 7 January 2006. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ ISBN 1920538755. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Justice Zak Yacoob's life journey and his lifelong dedication to social justice". 702. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Yacoob, Zak (8 April 2021). "Growing up blind: Retired Judge Zak Yacoob helps challenge an archaic law". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Delmas – last message from the dock". The Mail & Guardian. 9 December 1988. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Gower, Lauren (14 June 1985). "Treason charges linked to unrest". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "How apartheid torture steeled Gordhan for political warfare". The Mail & Guardian. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Tolsi, Niren (18 January 2013). "Constitutional icon Yacoob keeps the faith". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Justice Zak Yacoob". Our Constitution. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Tolsi, Niren (13 March 2012). "Top judge defends judicial dissent after Zuma criticism". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Tolsi, Niren (9 March 2012). "Few takers for empty seat on the Bench". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Simelane case shows need for rational executive decisions". The Mail & Guardian. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Tolsi, Niren (15 April 2013). "President appoints Madlanga to ConCourt". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Sole, Sam (1 August 2014). "National Prosecuting Authority charges Lawrence Mrwebi". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Sole, Sam (5 February 2015). "JZ ignores damning NPA report". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Indonesia Committed Crimes Against Humanity in 1965 Mass Killings: Judges". TIME. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Pather, Raeesa (6 February 2018). "French presidents 'tried to torpedo SA arms deal probe'". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Retired ConCourt judge Zak Yacoob resigns as head of crisis-hit NPO". Sunday Times. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Evans, Sarah (13 August 2014). "ANC hesitates on Yacoob, despite threatening talk". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "ANC veterans tell President Zuma to step down". The Mail & Guardian. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Benjamin, Chantelle (29 August 2014). "The hill is alive with young justice". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
External links
- Justice Zac Yacoob at South African History Online
- Interview with the Judicial Service Commission (1997)