Ashwin Trikamjee was a distinguished legal practitioner and a committed advocate for justice and the rule of law, whose immense contributions to the legal profession in South Africa and beyond will leave a legacy.

On 19 March 2025, the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) and the legal fraternity woke up to the news of the passing of legal practitioner Ashwin Trikamjee, who was, among other things, the chairperson of the LSSA’s Audit and Risk Committee. The LSSA through its President, Joanne Anthony-Gooden described the late Mr Trikamjee as a distinguished legal practitioner and a committed advocate for justice and the rule of law, whose immense contributions to the legal profession in South Africa and beyond will leave a legacy.

Ms Anthony-Gooden pointed out that Mr Trikamjee played a pivotal role in the unification of the legal profession, serving as president of the former Association of Law Societies (ALS) and chairing critical negotiations that led to the formation of the LSSA in 1998. She said that his leadership was instrumental in fostering collaborations between the ALS, the Black Lawyers Association (BLA), and the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL) in creating a unified voice for the legal profession.

Mr Trikamjee served as an acting judge on multiple occasions in the Pietermaritzburg and Durban High Courts. Ms Anthony-Gooden added that Mr Trikamjee’s commitment to justice extended beyond South Africa’s borders, as evidenced by his involvement with the International Bar Association’s (IBA) Human Rights Institute. Mr Trikamjee was also part of a seven-person delegation that assessed the state of the judiciary and the rule of law in Zimbabwe in 2001 and later co-presented their findings alongside renowned advocate George Bizos. Ms Anthony-Gooden said that his contributions to the IBA were extensive, having served as a vice-chairman of its African Regional Forum and a council member of the IBA Human Rights Institute. She added that Mr Trikamjee chaired international sessions on trade, democracy, and human rights in Africa, reflecting his dedication to legal excellence and human rights advocacy.

Ms Anthony-Gooden said: ‘Mr Trikamjee was a long-standing and dedicated member of the Standing Committee on Legal Education, the Audit and Risk Committee and served as Chair of the Examination Committee. His commitment to legal education and professional development was unwavering, ensuring the highest standards for future generations of legal practitioners. The LSSA honours Ashwin Trikamjee’s lifelong service to the legal profession and his uncompromising dedication to justice. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. His contributions will be remembered and celebrated by generations of legal practitioners to come.’

At the time of his death, Mr Trikamjee was serving as a member of the Legal Practice Council’s (LPC) examination panel. In a statement, the LPC said that Mr Trikamjee also played a crucial role in the LPC Competency-Based Examinations process. The Chief Executive Officer of the LPC, Charity Nzuza shared her last encounter with Mr Trikamjee, pointing out that their last interaction with him was in early March 2025, where Mr Trikamjee participated in an examination preparatory session where he provided guidance to the candidates writing LPC Competency-Based examinations, where he also shared general tips for the accounting (bookkeeping) paper.

Chairperson of the Law Society of South Africa’s Audit and Risk Committee, Ashwin Trikamjee.

Dr Thulja Trikamjee during her father’s funeral, said her final thank you was the most important one to her father. She added that there were no words to quantify all that Mr Trikamjee did for her. ‘Just know that I will spend a lifetime honouring you and your legacy. My greatest compliments are when people tell me that I am like my father and my most cherished messages of the last 24 hours came from people who reminded me how proud you are of me,’ Dr Trikamjee said.

In a statement released by the presidency, President Cyril Ramaphosa said Mr Trikamjee was a Black Consciousness activist. He pointed out that Mr Trikamjee’s deep spiritual devotion extended beyond his Hindu affiliation as he advocated for tolerance and collaboration among the diverse religious communities in South Africa. ‘Ashwin Trikamjee led a life of diverse pursuits which he exercised to improve the lives of communities and the impact of organisations in which he served. We will miss his gentle, serene presence, wise counsel and humble yet industrious service to many sectors of our nation,’ President Ramaphosa said.

Senior member of NADEL and Mr Trikamjee’s friend, Krish Govender in an interview with the SABC, pointed out that Mr Trikamjee did not tolerate any form of racism, maintained integrity, and advanced legal education, especially for legal practitioners. ‘He was a human being committed to uplifting humanity, uplifting people, black people in particular, and black lawyers,’ Mr Govender added. 

Mr Trikamjee was the inaugural Chairperson of the National Religious Leaders Forum and was a vice-president of the South African Football Association. Mr Trikamjee also served as the Chairperson of the SABC’s pension fund for 20 years.

Kgomotso Ramotsho Cert Journ (Boston) Cert Photography (Vega) is the news reporter at De Rebus.