Farewell to Judge Phillip Levinsohn

A passionate defender of media freedom and the Press Code.

This is the way Judge Phillip Levinsohn, Chair of the Press Council of South Africa, is remembered by his Council colleagues. Justice Levinsohn was 83 when he died suddenly this week.

He had served as Council chair for more than a decade after his retirement in 2010. Prior to that he served for nearly 20 years as judge of the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, the last few years as Deputy Judge President.

Justice Levinsohn was also the longest-serving judge moderator of the Board of Examiners for new advocates, and the only judge to have been invited to continue as a judge moderator after his retirement.

Press Council Executive Director Latiefa Mobara remembered Judge Levinsohn as ‘a gentle, caring man who was a fierce defender of media freedom and a passionate believer in fair media coverage as espoused by the Press Code’.

Deputy Chair of Council Amina Frense said: ‘Judge Levinsohn was a friend and a mentor, whose experience and intellect were much admired by everyone on the Press Council. He contributed immensely to the highly reputable organisation we are today.’

He is greatly missed.