Personal:
18 March 1965, Bloemfontein
Spouse: Sello Molemela
Two children
Education:
Matric: Albert Moroka High School, Thaba Nchu
BA: University of Fort Hare
B Proc: University of Fort Hare
Bachelor of Laws (LLB): University of the Free State
Master of Laws (LL M) (in Mercantile Law): University of the Free State
Certificate in Advanced Military Law (Thaba Tshwane College, SANDF)
Certificate for participation in the Human Rights Course, Danish Centre for Human Rights, Coppenhagen
Post-grad Diploma in Business Management: Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College
Post-grad Diploma in Advanced Labour Law (University of Johannesburg)
Professional History:
Prosecutor at Thaba Nchu Magistrate’s Court
Candidate Attorney E G Cooper & Sons; Peete Jake Moloi & Partners
Admitted as an attorney (1993)
Admitted as an Attorney (1993)
Admitted as Conveyancer (1996)
Admitted as a Notary (1996)
Arbitrator: Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) 1999-2001
Part-time law lecturer: University of the Free State 2001-2003
Practising Attorney (1993 – 2008)
Military Judge: 2004
Acting Judge, Free State Division of the High Court (2005; 2006; 2007)
Acting Judge, Gauteng Local Division of the High Court, Johannesburg (Nov 2007 – March 2008)
Judge of the High Court, Free State Division (July 2008 - May 2018)
Acting Judge, Labour Appeal Court (2012 – 2014)
Acting Judge, Competition Appeal Court (2012 – 2014)
Judge of Appeal, Labour Appeal Court (1 June 2014 – 1 June 2018)
Appointed as the first female Judge President of the Free State Division of the High Court: 1 January 2015 - 31 May 2018
Acting Judge, Constitutional Court (February – May 2015)
Acting Judge, Supreme Court of Appeal (15 February 2016 – 30 September 2017)
Judge of Appeal, Supreme Court of Appeal: (1 June 2018 to date)
In office as the Fourth President of the Supreme Court of Appeal: 1 June 2023 to date
Awards, Honours and Other Activities:
Honorary Doctorate (LL D hon. causa) University of the Free State (2019)
Part-time teacher (Criminology): Lediboho Adult Education Centre (1994 – 1995)
Member of the Black Lawyers Association (1989 – 2008)
Council member of the Law Society of the Free State (1995-1999)
Former member of the Board of Control of the Law Society of South Africa’s School for Legal Practice, Free State
Former examiner for the Conveyancing examinations, Law Society of the Free State
Former Development Member of the Board of Control of the Attorneys Fidelity Fund
Participant in the Human Rights training programme presented by the Danish Centre for Human Rights (1996)
Provincial Commissioners’ Team Leader, CCMA (2000-2001)Provincial Commissioners’ Team Leader, CCMA (2000-2001)
Former Chairperson of Centlec Pty Ltd (electricity supplier of Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality)
Former Chairperson of the Valuations Court
Former Provincial board member of ABSA Bank Ltd
Former Trustee of the Black Lawyers Association’s Legal Education Centre (BLA LEC)
Former board member of Free State Rural Development Association (non-profit organization) (2000-2004)
Former Council Member of the St Rose Parish of the Catholic Church, 2004
Member of the South African Women Lawyers Association (SAWLA) 2007-2008)
Member of the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) (2008 – date)
Chairperson of the Library Committee, Free State Division of the High Court (2011-2015)
Participant in Adjudication of Socio-economic Rights, University of Pretoria (2012)
Participant in the training of Labour Court Judges on Equality in the Workplace, Turin, Italy;
International Training Centre of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) (2012)
Recipient of Recognition Award, Albert Moroka High School, Thaba Nchu
Presenter of Trial Advocacy: Legal Education Centre (2012 – 2023)
Council member of the Central University of Technology (2013 – 2015)
Member of the Visitors Committee of the Constitutional Court (1 February – 31 May 2015)
Member of the Judicial Conduct Committee of the JSC (2015-2022)
Member of the Judicial Oversight Committee (2015 to 2018)
Chancellor of the Central University of Technology (1 January 2016 to 31 December 2023)
Recipient of the University of the Free State’s Recognition Award: Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumnus Award (20 October 2017)
Recipient of the Black Conveyancers Association recognition award (Transformation Award) (28 October 2017)
Member of the Selection Committee of the South African Judicial Education Institute (2017 – May 2018)
Trustee of the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (SAC-IAWJ) Trust (2018 to date)
Board member of the Free State Symphony Orchestra (2019 to date)
Recognition award: 2019/2020 Country and Regional Winner: CEO Global Africa's Most Influential Women and Business and Government, SADC South Region
Recipient of International Association of Women Judges SA Chapter’s recognition award (Against All Odds) (10 August 2016); Service Award: 2 August 2023; 9 August 2024)
Chairperson of the Judicial Oversight Committee (September 2024 to date)
Chairperson of the Judicial Accountability Committee (September 2024 to date)
Advisory Board Member: Free State Centre for Human Rights (2016 – 2018; October 2024 to date)
Member of the Council of the South African Judicial Training Institute (SAJEI) (June 2023 - date)
Member of the Judicial Services Commission (June 2023- date)
Participant in World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Intellectual Property Master Class (New Delhi, March 2024)
WIPO IP Judges Forum Panel Member (Geneva, October 2024)
