Personal details
Dikgang Moseneke was born in Pretoria in December 1947. He attended primary and secondary school there. But at the age of 15, when in standard eight, Moseneke was arrested, detained and convicted of participating in anti-apartheid activity.
He was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, all of which he served on Robben Island. Moseneke studied for his matric as well as two degrees while in jail.
Moseneke is married to Kabo and they have a daughter and two sons.
Education
While Moseneke was jailed on Robben Island he obtained a BA in English and political science, as well as a B Iuris degree. He later completed an LLB. All three degrees were conferred by the University of South Africa.
Professional history
Moseneke started his professional career as an attorney’s clerk at Klagbruns Inc in Pretoria in 1976. In 1978 he was admitted and practised for five years as an attorney and partner at the law firm Maluleke, Seriti and Moseneke.
In 1983 he was called to the Bar and practised as an advocate in Johannesburg and Pretoria. Ten years later, in 1993, he was elevated to the status of senior counsel.
In 1993 Moseneke served on the technical committee that drafted the interim constitution of 1993. In 1994 he was appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission, which conducted the first democratic elections in South Africa.
In September 1994, while practising as a silk, Moseneke accepted an acting appointment to the Transvaal Provincial Division of the Supreme Court.
Before his appointment as Justice of the Constitutional Court, in November 2001 Moseneke was appointed a Judge of the High Court in Pretoria. On 29 November 2002 he was appointed as judge in the Constitutional Court Court and in June 2005, Moseneke was appointed Deputy Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa.
Other activities
Between 1995 and 2001 Moseneke left the Bar to pursue a full-time corporate career in the following capacities. He has since resigned all these positions:
- Chairperson: Telkom South Africa Limited (Since October 1994)
- Chairperson: African Merchant Bank
- Chairperson: Metropolitan Life Ltd
- Chairperson: African Bank Investments Ltd
- Chief Executive: New Africa Investments Ltd
- Director: New Africa Publications (Pty) Ltd
- Director: Phaphama Holdings (Pty) Ltd
- Director: Urban Brew (Pty) Ltd
- Chairperson: Alisa Car Rental (Pty) Ltd (Hertz)
- Director: Life Officers’ Association
He is a founder member of the Black Lawyers' Association and of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers of South Africa.
In 1986 Moseneke was appointed visiting fellow and lecturer at Columbia Law School, University of Columbia, New York.
He has served in several community and non-governmental organisations, including as:
- chairperson of Project Literacy for more than 10 years;
- trustee of Sowetan Nation Building; and
- deputy chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.
Moseneke is the first chancellor of Pretoria Technikon and currently serves as chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand.
Moseneke holds several honorary doctorates and is a recipient of numerous awards of honour, performance and excellence. These include:
- the KWV Award of Excellence;
- the Black Lawyers Association Excellence Award (1993);
- Unisa School of Business Leadership Excellence Award (1997);
- Black Management Forum Empowerment Award (1998);
- Sunday Times Businessman of the Year Nominee (1998);
- International Trial Lawyer of the Year Award (from the International Academy of Trial Lawyers) (2000);
- Soweto Achiever Award (2002);
- honorary professorship in Banking Law, Unisa (2002);
- honorary professor in the Department of Mercantile Law, Unisa (2004-2006);
- Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) from the University of the North;
- Doctor of Commerce (honoris causa) from the University of Natal; and
- Doctor of Technology (honoris causa) from Tshwane University of Technology.
- Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) from the University of South Africa.
- Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) from the City University of New York.
In the past 20 years, Moseneke has read numerous papers at law and business conferences, published several academic papers in law journals at home and abroad.
Speeches and Lectures
Final Court Sitting - Moseneke DCJ 20 May 2016
A Jurisprudential Journey from Apartheid to Democratic Constitutionalism
Courage of Principle: An address by Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke to mark the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Ruth First
The Hart Memorial Lecture 2012 - Georgetown University Law School
Striking a Balance between the will of the people and the Supremacy of the Constitution
Openning Statements at Special Meting of JSC
VIIth World Congress of the International Association of Constitutional Law
Tribute to former Chief Justice Langa D.M
Separation of Powers, Democratic Ethos and Judicial Function
NICRO’s contribution to the criminal justice system during the past 97 years
For more Speeches by the Judge Click Here
Speeches and lectures Published on Law Journal
Transformative constitutionalism: its implication for the law of contract’ (2009) 20 Stell LR
Oliver Schreiner memorial lecture: Separation of Power, democratic ethos and judicial function
Retirement of CC Justices-Tribute on behalf of the Constitutional Court of SA
The Fourth Bram Fischer memorial-lecture: transformative adjudication
Attack on the judiciary
For more Published Speeches of the Judge Click Here
JSC Interviews Curriculum Vitae of Justice narrated version.
JSC interview
JSC interview for the DCJ position
