Growing up in Salt River at the foot of Devil’s Peak during the apartheid-era and witnessing first-hand the forced removals from District Six, prepared Judge Siraj Desai for a life of advocacy.

Judge Desai matriculated from Trafalgar High School and then went on to study law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Desai started articling as a lawyer in 1976, and his future career would naturally take a political tone following the Soweto uprisings.

In 1995, Judge Desai was the first person of colour from the Western Cape to be appointed to the bench, and second nationally, following Judge President John Hlophe six months earlier. Judge Siraj Desai joined NRA in studio to relate his story…