Johannesburg – Chief Justice Mandisa Maya and members of the South African Judiciary are mourning the passing of retired Judge Eberhard Bertelsmann.
A terse statement issued by the Office of the Chief Justice on Monday, 3 August 2026, said the Chief Justice and the judiciary “have learned with sadness of the passing of retired Judge Eberhard Bertelsmann”.
The retired judge succumbed to cancer over the weekend at the age of 79.
He served the Judiciary with distinction over many years and was widely respected for his unwavering commitment to the rule of law, judicial independence and the fair administration of justice.
“Throughout his judicial career, Judge Bertelsmann earned recognition for his diligence, integrity and the quality of his judgments,” the statement said.
Bertelsmann was a judge in the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) for more than 16 years until his retirement in August 2016.
“Even in retirement, Judge Bertelsmann remained dedicated to the administration of justice and continued to contribute his expertise in matters of public importance,” the statement said.
“His thoughtful and principled approach to the law leaves an enduring legacy within the South African legal fraternity.”
The Judiciary extended its heartfelt condolences to Judge Bertelsmann’s family, friends, former colleagues and all those who had the privilege of working alongside him.
“May they find comfort during this difficult time, and may his soul rest in peace,‘’ said the statement.
In an obituary, Netwerk24 writes that after his retirement, Judge Bertelsmann operated a legal clinic on behalf of the Christian Lawyers’ Association and served poor people from a humble office near the Dutch Reformed Church in Bosman Street (in Pretoria’s CBD) with legal advice.
Netwerk24 further wrote that Bertelsmann told the JSC during an interview in 2009 how he overcame addiction to prescription medication and alcohol in the 1980s.
After his recovery, he served for 16 years as director of the rehabilitation clinic that saved him.
Bertelsmann was born in Germany in 1946 and attended school in Windhoek, Namibia, and Pretoria before studying law at Stellenbosch University and Unisa.
He practised as counsel at the Pretoria Bar and took silk in 1988.
Netwerk24 revealed that since his elevation to the Bench in 2000, Bertelsmann was known for his strict courtroom management, thorough preparation and fearless application of the law, which earned him the nickname “The Rottweiler” among lawyers.
