Who remembers the manual Corolla typewriter, handwritten legal briefs in triplicate and “mistakenly” marching on the Union Buildings to protest against racist pass laws during the early years of apartheid? Few, to be sure. But 80-year-old business lawyer Graham Cox and his wife, Jillian, 77, have vivid memories of their university days in Cape Town, setting up a legal practice in an old run-down building in Durban, and, of course, how they met and became the “soulmates” they are now. And, remembers Jillian, how she was dragged into the anti-pass law protest by a friend and member of the Black Sash in 1956.

“In those days I was politically naive. But I remember lots of white women, all members of the Black Sash, marching to the Union Buildings where they handed over a memorandum. I can’t even remember who it was handed to,” she chuckles.

Recognised recently by the legal profession for his 50 years of service as a corporate lawyer, the octogenarian still leaves for work every day as the sun rises.

He spends a full day at the office consulting and helping with training young articled clerks and associates before setting off for home again at 4pm. “If I stayed at home my wife would give me things to do. She’s very bossy, you know.”

More seriously, though, he adds: “I love it. It keeps my mind active. Half the fun is keeping up with the changes such as the new Companies Act and working with young legal minds. Today our lawyers are better than they used to be and the environment they operate in is way more sophisticated,” he says.

He remembers, as he relaxes against the plush sofa at the spanking new Cox Yeats and Associates Attorneys offices on Umhlanga Ridge, setting up his first practice in central Durban in offices with peeling walls, no telephone and no electricity.

“I started my own company because I don’t like being told what to do. I was employed at Unilever after I graduated, and they are a wonderful company to work for, but I wanted to be my own boss.”

And, as he looks back over the many company acquisitions, takeovers and tax law cases down the years, Cox deems the Marikana massacre and Menzi Simelane enquiries as the most fascinating (Simelane’s appointment as head of the National Prosecuting Authority by President Jacob Zuma was ruled invalid by the Constitutional Court last month).

In the same breath, though, he slates the government for its lack of administrative capability. “Our institutions are not competent. But, instead of teaching people to do the job, they change the system. I remember the days when I would send a letter to a head of a government department and I would get a reply. I feel sorry for the business community who have to deal with the government departments. It is so frustrating.”

Jillian is better known in Durban’s medical circles as Dr Jillian Key, who worked for more than 30 years in Addington’s paediatric unit together with Dr Bill Winship, among others.

“We started the first child abuse unit at Addington. We got the first Childline going and with a team of colleagues and social workers, got the Child Protection Unit set up here in Durban. It was important to make sure children who were abused were not examined by a district surgeon – they’re not qualified to do that.

“It was because of the work we all did that the government stopped that. Also the setting up of special courts for children. I was very upset when the new government came in and closed down all these specialist units. They’re all gone now.”

Her expression of sadness and anger dissipates as she responds to: “What was the most important moment in your life?”

“Of course, when I married my husband. We are soulmates.”