President Cyril Ramaphosa has given posthumous veteran human rights lawyer in support of Dumalisile (Duma) Philemon Pearce Nokwe, the honorary title of Senior Advisor to the Republic of South Africa (SC or Silk).
Nokwe died in 1978 in exile in Zambia.
“The posthumous honor given to the Supreme Court’s first African advocate is a high honor recognising Nokwe’s expertise and contribution to the legal profession.
“President Ramaphosa has awarded the position of Senior Advisor on Advannokwe, in line with the provisions of the Legal Practice Act of 2014, which governed this status and set the criteria for its award.
“In this example, the Council of Law Practices and the group of supporters of the Duma Nokwe Group applied to the President for their posthumous appointment of Nokwe as a senior lawyer,” the president said in a statement.
Nokwe’s body was repatriated to South Africa in 2024, and his re-village will be held on Saturday.
“The President awarded this award to the late Advannokwe on Saturday, May 17, 2025, on the eve of the revered legal practitioner rehearsal at Westpark Cemetery, Johannesburg.
“President Ramaphosa gives a special official state funeral to his advocate Nokwe, and the president will pay his respects at tomorrow’s ceremony,” the statement read.
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Struggle icon
Nokwe received his bachelor’s degree from Fort Hare University and a diploma in education.
However, his political activities led his imprisonment in 1952 during a rebellious campaign targeting the apartheid government.
He was banned and restricted by racist governments after his participation in the World Youth Festival in 1953 and his visit to the then Soviet Union, China and the UK.
“He then studied law, earned an LLB degree and became the first black advocate to be recognized by the Johannesburg Association of Advocates.
“He was put on trial for treason and banned police orders, arrests and assaults,” the president said.
By fighting for his political activities and the freedom of South Africans, he had to leave the country.
“He was elected Secretary-General of the African National Congress in 1958 and mobilized the community against apartheid until January 1963 when underground leaders directed them to leave South Africa.
“Advocate Nokwe campaigned against the apartheid province on a global platform that includes African unity and the organization of African Union and African Union, and remained an activist until his death in Lusaka in January 1978,” the statement concluded.
