The Graceland Hotel hall was filled to capacity on Saturday, when friends, family and colleagues celebrated the recent appointment of Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela as a judge of the North Gauteng High Court.

Maumela, who worked as a prosecutor and magistrate for many years, was hailed as someone who fought tirelessly for justice all his life.

Speaking during the ceremony, Judge Joe Raulinga said Maumela had paid his dues and that he was the right man for the position and that he would perform his duties as judge with distinction. He said Maumela had achieved a lot during his stint as a magistrate and cited the drafting of a submission document to the Truth and Reconcilliation Commission as one the best achievements by Maumela.

He describes Maumela as a courageous son, brilliant lawyer, an outstanding and meticulous human being.

Vho Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli, the senior traditional leader of the Mphaphuli area where Maumela comes from, said Judge Maumela had made the family and the whole province very proud. He said his appointment would encourage the youth in his area that everything is possible; one could emerge from the most remote parts of the villages and be somebody at national level.

“We are very excited about his appointment and we hope the youth will emulate him, so that we have more and more people from this area holding higher positions in the country,” he said.

In reply, Maumela said that his appointment did not mean that he was the most intelligent, as there were better people. He thanked the contributions of family, colleagues and friends for having played a part in moulding him.