Wim Trengove

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Wim Trengove
SC
Wim Trengove at Stellenbosch University.png
Trengove at Stellenbosch University in 2012
Born (1949-10-27) 27 October 1949 (age 74)
Alma mater University of Pretoria
Occupation Advocate
Years active1975–present
Children6, including John
Parent

Wim Trengove SC (born 27 October 1949) is a South African advocate best known for his role in constitutional litigation. He has argued various administrative law, constitutional law, and human rights law matters in the Constitutional Court of South Africa, including several high-profile political cases.

Contents

Early life and career

Trengove was born on 27 October 1949. [1] His parents were liberal Afrikaans-speakers, [2] and his father, J. J. Trengove, was an advocate and later a judge of the Supreme Court. [3] Initially interested in a career as a civil engineer, [2] he instead studied law after serving his conscripted service in the South African Defence Force. [3] He graduated from the University of Pretoria with a BCom LLB cum laude. [1]

In 1975, Trengove joined the bar in Johannesburg. [1] Although he had intended to specialise in commercial law, he gained a reputation for handling labour law briefs and political trials involving anti-apartheid activists. [3] He took silk in 1987 and served stints both as chairman of the Johannesburg Bar Council and as chairman of the General Council of the Bar. [1]

Notable briefs

In the post-apartheid period, Trengove specialises in administrative law, constitutional law, and human rights law matters, [4] and he is best known for his appearances in the Constitutional Court of South Africa. Indeed, he argued in the certification of the Constitution itself. [5] In human rights matters, Trengove argued, inter alia, for the abolition of the death penalty in S v Makwanyane , [6] against discrimination on the basis of HIV status in Hoffmann v South African Airways , [7] for the protection of sex workers' labour rights in Kylie v CCMA , [8] for the restitution of land and mineral rights to groups dispossessed during apartheid in Alexkor Ltd v Richtersveld Community, [9] and for the roll-out of anti-retroviral treatment for HIV patients in Minister of Health v Treatment Action Campaign. [10] He also represented mineworkers in a class action to claim damages from mining companies for damages due to the widespread contraction of silicosis; [11] the $400 million settlement in favour of the miners was the largest in South African history. [12] Other notable constitutional matters in which he appeared include Economic Freedom Fighters v Speaker , National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality v Minister of Home Affairs , Kruger v President of the Republic of South Africa , My Vote Counts v Speaker of the National Assembly , and Corruption Watch v President .

Trengove has been active in high-profile political cases, representing former president Nelson Mandela, including in his divorce from Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, [13] leading the prosecution of former president Jacob Zuma on charges of corruption, [14] [15] and representing President Cyril Ramaphosa in his dispute with the Public Protector. [16] Trengove was outspoken about the National Prosecuting Authority's decision in 2008 to withdraw its corruption charges against Zuma, criticising the decision at a public lecture at the University of Cape Town, where Trengove is an honorary professor. [17]

Personal life

Trengove met his wife, née  Estelle Viljoen, in the 1980s, when she was a journalist covering one of his cases in Pretoria. [3] They have six children, [3] one of whom is film director John Trengove.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "The Chairman's contribution" (PDF). Consultus. 6 (2): 104. October 1993.
  2. 1 2 Beresford, David (23 November 2006). "A law unto himself". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Wicks, Bernadette (9 October 2021). "From presidents to paupers, Wim Trengove has defended them all". The Citizen. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  4. ↑ "Wim Trengove SC". Thulamela Chambers. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "Certification of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (CCT 23/96) [1996] ZACC 26; 1996 (4) SA 744 (CC); 1996 (10) BCLR 1253 (CC) (6 September 1996)". saflii.org. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  6. ↑ "S v Makwanyane and Another (CCT3/94) [1995] ZACC 3; 1995 (6) BCLR 665; 1995 (3) SA 391; [1996] 2 CHRLD 164; 1995 (2) SACR 1 (6 June 1995)". saflii.org. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  7. ↑ "Hoffmann v South African Airways (CCT17/00) [2000] ZACC 17; 2001 (1) SA 1; 2000 (11) BCLR 1211; [2000] 12 BLLR 1365 (CC) (28 September 2000)". saflii.org. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  8. ↑ "Kylie v Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration and Others (CA10/08) [2010] ZALAC 8; 2010 (4) SA 383 (LAC); 2010 (10) BCLR 1029 (LAC); (2010) 31 ILJ 1600 (LAC); [2010] 7 BLLR 705 (LAC) (26 May 2010)". saflii.org. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  9. ↑ "Diamonds are for Richtersveld". News24. 14 October 2003. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  10. ↑ "Minister of Health and Others v Treatment Action Campaign and Others (No 2) (CCT8/02) [2002] ZACC 15; 2002 (5) SA 721; 2002 (10) BCLR 1033 (5 July 2002)". saflii.org. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  11. ↑ Lewis, Pete (23 October 2015). "Silicosis case: mines are being obstructive, say miners' lawyers". GroundUp News. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  12. ↑ "South Africa miners reach $400 million silicosis settlement with mining companies". Reuters. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  13. ↑ Block, Robert. "No 'fairy-tale ending' as court gives Nelson Mandela divorce". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  14. ↑ Khumalo, Juniour (23 May 2019). "Trengove: Zuma flourished during time of delayed prosecution". CityPress. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  15. ↑ Manyathela, Clement. "Wim Trengove: Zuma can't rely on spy tapes for permanent stay of prosecution". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  16. ↑ "'Reckless, reckless, reckless!' – Mkhwebane 'thumbsucked' facts in finding against Ramaphosa, court hears". News24. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  17. ↑ "Advocate Wim Trengove at UCT | Department of Public Law". publiclaw.uct.ac.za. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
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