Chief Justice Langa's wife dies after long illness

Chief Justice Pius Langa’s wife of 43 years, Beauty, died during the night after a long illness, his office said on Monday.

“She died overnight in hospital,” his personal assistant, Hlubi Mzaidume, said.

The couple was married in 1966. Mrs Langa died two days before her 65th birthday and is survived by her father, her husband, the couple’s five children and their grandchildren.

The chief justice’s office said a memorial service would be held in Johannesburg on Tuesday evening and the funeral would take place in Durban on Saturday.

Langa is due to retire as chief justice in October.

The African National Congress sent its condolences to Langa and his family.

Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille said: “I was very sad to hear of Beauty’s passing so close to Chief Justice Langa’s retirement, when he would have been able to spend more time with his wife and family.”—Sapa