Judiciary mourns loss of Gauteng judge Mayat

The Office of the Chief Justice on Monday afternoon announced the death of Gauteng High Court judge Haseena Mayat.

Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court Dunstan Mlambo said: “We received the news in the morning and was saddened by Judge Mayat’s untimely passing. Judges, court management, court staff and members of the profession received the news of her passing with shock.”

“Judge Mayat was a very committed jurist and had established herself as one of the pillars of the Division. Her quiet demeanor, engaging discourse and decisive manner particularly in tackling difficult cases will be sorely missed by the Division.”

Mayat was appointed as a Judge of the High Court on 1 October 2009, by President Jacob Zuma.

Prior to her appointed as a permanent Judge, Judge Mayat acted as a Judge in the Witwatersrand Local Division, now referred to as the Gauteng Local Division of the High Court on several occasions between 2005 and 2009. She was a practicing attorney under Mayat, Nurick and Associates from April 1993 until her appointment as a Judge.

Mayat was due to be buried on Monday evening according to Muslim rites at the Newclare Cemetery. She is survived by her mother and siblings.

Mayat’s death followed the passing of former Constitutional Court Judge Thembile Skweyiya who died last Tuesday.