By Kgomotso Ramotsho
The Judge President of the Free State Division of the High Court, Judge President Mahube Molemela, including the judges and support staff of the division have conveyed their deepest condolences to the family of retired Justice Dries van Coller. The statement released by the Free State Division stated that Justice van Coller passed away after a short illness. Justice van Coller obtained BA and LLB degrees from the University of the Free State. He practiced as an advocate before he was appointed as a judge in Mthatha in 1980.
Justice van Coller was later transferred to the Free State Division in 1983. He acted as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeal on several occasions and retired from active service in 2003. The statement added that Justice van Coller was a humble, kind, conscientious person and was an asset to the legal profession. He made a significant contribution to the rule of law in South Africa.
Justice van Coller passed away at the age of 84, he was buried in Bloemfontein in November 2017. He is survived by his wife, four children and seven grandchildren.
Kgomotso Ramotsho Cert Journ (Boston) Cert Photography (Vega) is the news reporter at De Rebus.
This article was first published in De Rebus in 2018 (Jan/Feb) DR 14.
