Justice Zukisa Laura Lumka Tshiqi retires from the bench at the end of May, closing a distinguished 21-year judicial career
The South African judiciary is preparing to bid farewell to one of its most respected jurists as Justice Zukisa Laura Lumka Tshiqi retires from the bench at the end of May, closing a distinguished 21-year judicial career that helped shape key areas of constitutional, labour, and family law in democratic South Africa.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Office of the Chief Justice confirmed that Justice Tshiqi will officially retire from the Constitutional Court of South Africa on May 31, 2026.
Justice Tshiqi’s legal journey spans nearly four decades and reflects a career deeply intertwined with South Africa’s constitutional transformation. Before joining the bench, she built a career as an attorney, mediator, labour law specialist, and judicial trainer.
Her legal career began while she was still studying for a B Proc degree at the University of the Witwatersrand. Between 1986 and 1989, she worked as a legal coordinator for the South African Council of Churches.
