The Democratic Alliance (DA) expressed shock and sadness at the passing away of Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions and former Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape Advocate Rodney de Kock.

De Kock died after a short illness. He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer in early December, resulting in a rapid decline in his health condition, his family said in a statement.

He succumbed to the cancer at Morningside Mediclinic in Johannesburg, on Monday surrounded by family and friends.

DA spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development advocate Glynnis Breytenbach described De Kock as a profoundly dedicated and decent man, who she said dedicated his life to serving South Africans as a "people's lawyer in the truest sense”.

The party extended its condolences to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the family of De Kock.

“…his loss will be felt within the National Prosecuting Authority and the criminal justice system,” she said.

Kock articled at Wilkinson, Joshua and Gihwalla in 1983, where he became a partner.

He went on to serve as head of the Legal Aid Board Clinic at the University of Cape Town from 1994 to 1999.

De Kock was a founding member and served on the executive of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers established in 1987 under the leadership of renowned Cape Town lawyer and later the first Minister of Justice in a democratic South Africa, the late former Minister Dullah Omar, and the late Chief Justice Pius Langa and many others.

He served as a Presiding Officer in the Electoral Court in 1994 and in 1997 he was appointed by the Minister of Justice, as a member of the Legal Aid Task Team which drafted the country’s National Public Defender Model.

De Kock was the first black person to be appointed an Attorney General in the country when he took up the post of Attorney General of the Western Cape from 1999, after which he joined the NPA as Director of Public Prosecutions for the Western Cape in November 2003.

He was also asked to act as the National Director of Public Prosecutions in 2019 by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

He was appointed by the President as Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions in June 2020, a position he held until his passing.

“After a luminary career, marked by an uncompromising dedication to justice, the democratic order, and to his fellow citizens, his family and friends take great solace in knowing that Rodney served his country with unblemished integrity, dedication, honesty and humility,” his family’s statement reads.

De Kock leaves behind his two children and four siblings.

“The De Kock family takes much comfort from the fact that their beloved father, brother, and elder, passed peacefully after a short but courageous battle. They are grateful for the time they have shared with him,” said the family.

The family expressed its appreciation for the support from government, colleagues and friends and has requested privacy. 

The family said details of the memorial and funeral service will be communicated in due course.