Retiring Judge Qinisile Mabuza was not just a Judge but a mother to some of us who knew her outside her judicial duties.
When the police invaded my home in 2020 and harassed my children with guns, Judge Qinisile Mabuza called me saying;
“Baphi labatfwana nyalo ye-Zweli badleni nje, ngingabamikisela njani kudla yati tsine boMake sibese siyatsintseka nasekuhlukumeteka bantfwana”.
In the midst of that call I then understood that I was not speaking to a Judge but a mother, I almost cried and in fact, Judge Mabuza cooled down the anger that was brewing inside me against the police who harassed my children.
Judge Qinisile Mabuza hates injustice inside and outside the court but in this world, very few people reach out to you and say “Hello” when you are at the peak of troubles, surrounded by enemies for doing your job.
Judge Mabuza is not a just a Judge to me but a mother who demonstrated that “kuhelwa kukhona”.
But as I was talking to the Judge I learned that “she upholds her judicial code of conduct and ethics”, she said; “njengoba bakufuna kangaka nabangakubamba bakuletse lakimi ngingavele ngitsi kahleni ngiyamati loyo, mumikiseni kulelinye Lijaji”.
But the Judge jockily said; “mane angati kutsi kungaba ngubani ngoba ngatsi lamaJaji lamanyenti ayakwati lana utsi kukhona longakwati wena uhlupha kangaka!”.
As you retire Honorable Judge, just know that I am grateful for the love you showed to my children, I know you have touched many lives positively inside court and outside your judicial duties.
May God bless you with many more years!.
Retiring Judge Qinisile Mabuza (centre).