On 16 May 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa posthumously conferred the honorary title of Senior Counsel (SC) upon Advocate Dumalisile Philemon Pearce Nokwe, widely known as Duma Nokwe. This prestigious recognition honours Adv Nokwe’s exceptional contributions to South Africa’s legal profession and his unwavering commitment to the anti-apartheid struggle.
Duma Nokwe, a struggle veteran and human rights lawyer, played an integral part in the resistance against apartheid.
He obtained his LLB degree in 1955 and was admitted as an advocate, enrolling as a member of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates on 09 March 1956. He holds the distinction of being the first black advocate to be admitted to the bar. However, the Native Affairs Department of the time barred him from taking chambers with his white colleagues in the Johannesburg city centre. This exclusion led Adv Nokwe to devote himself fully to the liberation struggle.
The title of Senior Counsel, also referred to as ‘taking silk’, is awarded to advocates who have demonstrated exceptional skill, integrity and leadership in the legal profession. The Legal Practice Act of 2014 governs the conferral of this status, outlining the criteria and procedures for its award.
In a statement released by the Presidency, the posthumous conferral of the Senior Counsel title on Adv Nokwe was described as a significant honour, acknowledging his legal expertise and his contributions to the profession. The application for his appointment was submitted to the President by the Legal Practice Council, in conjunction with the Duma Nokwe Group of Advocates.
The conferral of the SC title coincided with the reburial of Adv Nokwe and his wife, Vuyiswa Malangabi-Nokwe, in Johannesburg on 17 May 2025.
