Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
24 January 2025 |14:45 CAT
2 min read

Condolences are streaming in following the passing of Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions, Rodney de Kock. De Kock, a towering figure in South Africa’s justice system, lost his battle with cancer on Monday morning. His family released a statement confirming that the seasoned advocate passed away at Medi-Clinic Morningside in Johannesburg on Monday evening, surrounded by friends and family.

Rodney de Kock’s name has long been synonymous with justice in South Africa, his legacy stretching back to before the country’s current democratic dispensation. Speaking on the tragic loss, the Democratic Alliance’s Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach shared her heartfelt reaction, describing the news as a “great shock” and a source of “incredible sadness.”

“Rodney made a massive contribution to justice in this country and particularly to the criminal justice system. The things you can say about Rodney are that he always acted ethically, that he was honest, that he had integrity, and that he did his best to be the people’s lawyer, which is very, very important,” Breytenbach said.

Reflecting on his legacy, she highlighted the contributions De Kock made to South Africa’s legal system. “He was instrumental in developing the structure of the legal aid system in this country, which meets the constitutional requirement of every accused person having access to free legal representation. That is a huge achievement and a great legacy.”

She also noted his groundbreaking role as the first person of colour to be appointed as a Director of Public Prosecutions, previously known as the Attorney General. “That in itself was a huge achievement. In becoming the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Western Cape, he became responsible for an entire provincial structure of the National Prosecuting Authority and became the leader of so many young lawyers and prosecutors.”

Breytenbach lauded his mentorship of young professionals. “Learning the ropes of the criminal justice system from somebody like Rodney would have been an incredible privilege. You would have learned to conduct yourself with honour, honesty, fairness, and integrity. These are characteristics you want to instill in every single prosecutor, and not every prosecutor is lucky enough to have a Director of Public Prosecutions who live out those values.”

She credited De Kock with running an effective and ethical office. “The administration in the Western Cape under the Director of Public Prosecutions has always been good. That was largely thanks to Rodney and the team he built around him, but he was the head of this team. These kinds of situations require leadership from the front, and he did that.”

Discussing the implications of De Kock’s loss for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Breytenbach emphasised the challenges ahead. “The NPA’s work is cut out for it, as corruption in South Africa, though spoken about often, is far from being addressed. The prosecutions are just not happening for large-scale corruption and organised crime.”

She stated that it will be almost impossible to replace him. “There just are not lawyers in the NPA anymore, or at least not many, with the kind of experience and dedication that Rodney exhibited. They need someone in that seat as quickly as possible because the work must continue. That being said, the other prosecutions do keep going every day, and that is itself a big job. But the loss of someone like Rodney, with his years of experience, particular approach, and ethos, is going to make it incredibly difficult to fill his shoes,” Breytenbach said.

Rodney de Kock’s passing leaves a void in South Africa’s legal fraternity. According to public sentiment, his contributions to justice and his mentorship of future generations of prosecutors stand as a testament to his life’s work.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany and advocate Glynnis Breytenbach, DA spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development, here.