2024 ended on a sad note for the Matsepe family, the Black Lawyers Association (BLA) and the communities of Welkom and Kroonstad in the Free State province. On 11 December 2024, Tsiu Vincent Matsepe took his last breath, and the journey of his ebullient life came to an end.
The legal fraternity joins the family and the community of Welkom, where he practiced, during the time of sorrow and sadness.
Mr Matsepe was an ordinary man who used his life to do extraordinary things in the service of his people. He immersed himself in the affairs of his community. As a lawyer with a dose of Black Consciousness and steeped in the traditions of community development espoused by Bantu Stephen Biko, he rendered free legal services to the residents of Welkom, Kroonstad and many townships in the then Orange Free State, who happened to be in collision with the unjust apartheid laws. He lived for Black people and dedicated his life to the betterment of their living conditions. Nikolai Ostrovsky probably had people like Mr Matsepe in his mind when he wrote in his book, How the Steel was Tempered (Sharda Prakashan 1983) that: ‘Man’s dearest possession is life. It is given to us but once. And we must live it so as to feel no torturing regrets for wasted years, never know the burning shame of a mean and petty past; so live, that dying we might say: all my life, all my strength were given to the finest cause in all the world – the fight for the liberation of mankind.’
In recognition of his commitment to build a new societal order based on the principles of human rights, justice and equality, he was appointed a first mayor of the transitional local government. He left his mayoral office with his integrity still intact. This was not surprising as those of us who were privileged to interact with him in the legal profession came to know him as integrity personified. A simple man who laid no claim to title – yet he carried so many. He knew that titles go but integrity remains and chose to be defined by who he was, rather than the positions he occupied. He was an epitome of honesty, integrity and civility – all of which are the traits and hallmarks of a good lawyer.
Indeed everyone who spoke at his funeral showered him with accolades in the manner in which he managed the affairs of the municipality. There was equally a lamentation on the current state of municipalities in our country where there is rampant corruption. A clarion call was made in his honour for those who are elected to lead us to do so without enriching themselves at the expense of the public, which looks up to them for much needed services. His death left a big void in the fight against pilfering and unrestrained plunder of public resources, which has become a norm among some of our elected public representatives.
The legal community is also devastated by this loss of a legal giant and a humble servant who spared no effort in advancing justice in our society. His sudden departure is a severe blow to the transformation agenda of the judiciary and the entire legal profession to which he devoted his professional life as an attorney. He was a dependable force in the army of the Black lawyers committed to bringing about a new legal order in our society. In this regard, he was part of the last cohort of BLA members deployed to wrap up the affairs of the old statutory law societies in preparation for the implementation of the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014. As a seasoned negotiator and community activist, he carried this assignment with maximum discipline, transparency and accountability. He brought much needed wisdom, foresight and serenity during the difficult period of transition from the old order to the new order. He liberated us from the clutches of the apartheid legal order and ushered in a new one based on equality of treatment regardless of race, gender or class.
As we navigate the challenges brought by the new regulatory environment, we will miss his guidance, wisdom and tenacity.
We, however, draw comfort from the fact that he gave his life to the service of his people. He has no torturing regrets for wasted years nor the burning shame of a mean and petty past. He correctly lay claim to the assertion by Nikolai Ostrovsky that: ‘all my life, all my strength were given to the finest cause in all the world – the fight for the liberation of mankind.’
May those of us who remain and are beneficiaries of the new legal order in our society commit ourselves to be worthy heirs of the sacrifices he made to bring about fairness and justice in the legal profession. May we guard his legacy and walk in his footsteps committed to his ideals of service with honour, integrity and humility. May we never wander to the field of disservice, dishonour and disrespect.
May his spirit cajole us to be humble servants of the people and a voice to those who are weak and vulnerable.
Mr Matsepe was given a state funeral and his body laid to rest on 18 December 2024 in Welkom. He is survived by his wife, children, the people of the Free State to whom he dedicated his life as well as a large community of lawyers he freely gave his time as its servant. May his soul rest in peace and rise in powerful glory.
Maboku Mangena BProc (UniVen) PG Dip Corporate law (Unisa) Taxation Adv (UP) is a legal practitioner, notary, and conveyancer at Maboku Mangena Attorneys Inc in Polokwane.
This article was first published in De Rebus in 2025 (March) DR 6.
