The late Judge Taswell Papier of the Western Cape High Court.
Image: FILE
The National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL) notes with sadness the passing of Judge Taswell Papier, a longstanding member of our organisation and a jurist whose life reflected a deep and consistent commitment to justice, transformation and human dignity.
A son of Mitchells Plain, Judge Papier dedicated most of his professional life to serving working-class communities across the Western Cape, including Mitchell’s Plain and Macassar. After his studies during the turbulent 1980s, he practised law among the communities that shaped him, building a legal practice that was both accessible and grounded in the realities faced by ordinary people. For many, he was not only an attorney, but a trusted presence in moments of uncertainty and hardship.
As a member of NADEL during some of the most difficult periods in our country’s history, he represented anti-apartheid activists, students and community members targeted during the States of Emergency. This work was not undertaken for recognition, but out of a firm belief that the law could and should be used in the service of justice, even in the face of repression.
Judge Papier’s relationship with NADEL spanned decades. He was an active member of the Western Cape branch from as early as 1989, serving on the Branch Executive Committee and later on NADEL’s executive structures between 1991 and 2002. He remained deeply aligned with NADEL’s vision of a transformed legal profession and a constitutional order that is meaningful in the lives of all people.
Within NADEL and the broader profession, he was known as someone who gave of his time and experience generously, and led by example. He played an important role in advancing access to justice through pro bono work, helping to entrench a culture of service within the legal profession. His work at the Cape Law Society and later at a national level contributed to shaping pro bono practice as a professional responsibility, the impact of which continues to be felt across the country.
His practice in Mitchells Plain created space for many young and women practitioners to develop their skills and establish themselves in the profession. In this way, his contribution to transformation was not only institutional, but deeply personal and reflected in the opportunities he created for others.
Judge Papier also represented NADEL in key professional bodies, including the Cape Law Society, where he served in a number of leadership roles, among them President of the Cape Law Society and Chair of its Disciplinary Committee. He further served on the Attorneys’ Fidelity Fund Board, including its bursary committee, and contributed nationally through the Pro Bono Committee of the Law Society of South Africa. In all these roles, he worked to strengthen ethical practice, broaden access to the profession, and open the profession to those historically excluded so as to ensure that the legal system better reflected the society it serves.
His appointment to the Western Cape High Court in 2017 was a moment of pride for NADEL. It was a reflection of both his professional standing and his long-standing commitment to transformation. On the Bench, he remained a thoughtful and people-centred jurist, bringing a grounded understanding of the law and its impact on the lives of those who come before the courts.
Judge Papier will be remembered within NADEL as a principled and humble colleague, someone who carried his responsibilities with quiet dignity and a clear sense of purpose. His contribution to NADEL, to the profession, and to the broader struggle for justice will continue to resonate for years to come. His impact is reflected in the many practitioners he mentored, the institutions he strengthened, and the communities whose access to justice he advanced.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, children, and extended family, as well as to his friends, colleagues and all those whose lives he touched. His life stands as a reminder of the role that lawyers can and must play in advancing human rights and deepening transformation in our society.
We honour his life and his work, and we remain guided by the values he so consistently upheld.
*National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL)