Former KwaZulu-Natal judge president Achmat Jappie dies at 70

Jappie, who led the province's high court from 2015 to 2021, died in a Durban hospital after a short illness.

Achmat Naeem Jappie, retired judge president of the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, died in a Durban hospital on 22 April 2026 after a short illness.³ He was 70 years old.²³

Jappie was first appointed to the bench in 1998 and served as deputy judge president before becoming head of the KwaZulu-Natal courts in 2015, a position he held until his retirement in 2021.¹² He also served as an acting judge of the Constitutional Court in 2015 and had a stint at the Labour Appeal Court.²³

Chief Justice Mandisa Maya described Jappie as a distinguished jurist who served South Africa with honour and integrity.² President Cyril Ramaphosa called him a longstanding champion of justice.²

After retirement, Jappie continued to contribute to the legal system by presiding over various tribunals.¹ He chaired the judicial conduct tribunal that found suspended Gauteng judge Tintswalo Makhubele guilty of misconduct in a case involving her dual roles as chair of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa and as a judge.¹

Advocate Madoda Griffiths Madonsela said Jappie gave him his first opportunity to act as a judge in the KwaZulu-Natal division of the high court.¹ Madonsela noted that allowing African advocates who were not yet senior counsel to act as judges was not a popular decision at the time, but Jappie made exceptions that benefited many.¹

Colleagues described Jappie as a stabilising presence on the bench who preferred careful, precise work over public attention.³ He was known for his unobtrusive authority and for holding fellow judges to account.³

Jappie's body was to lie at the 45th Cutting Soofie Bhaijaan Hall in Sherwood ahead of prayers at 1pm, with burial to follow at a nearby cemetery.¹ He is survived by his children Nadhir, Aneesa and Jameel.¹