Death of dedicated struggle era lawyer

Judge Essa Moosa (81), who died and was buried in Cape Town yesterday after a battle with cancer, has been lauded for his work during the struggle against apartheid and hailed as one of Cape Town's great sons, says a News24 report. Cape Town Mayor Patricia De Lille said Moosa, who advocated equality and human rights for all, was one of the most instrumental figures in the struggle against apartheid. ‘Hailing from District Six, he had lived through the injustices of our past and, as a human rights lawyer, he fought valiantly for those who were victims of the unjust apartheid regime. He will forever be remembered as one of Cape Town's great sons and for his integral role in the fight for freedom and equality,’ she said. UWC's vice-chancellor Professor Tyrone Pretorius said he would always be grateful for the vital role Moosa played at the university and beyond. ‘Judge Moosa was one of the great pillars of this institution – a man of integrity and courage who believed strongly in human dignity and equality, and who wasn’t afraid to share that belief,’ he said. Moosa served, as a founder executive member of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers. He chaired the Western Cape Constitutional Committee of the ANC, and was a member of the Ministry of Justice Co-ordinating Committee that spearheaded community participation as lay assessors in the Magistrate's Courts.