Personal:
20 March 1964, St Cuthberts, Tsolo, Eastern Cape
Husband: Dabulamanzi Mlokoti
Three children
Education:
Matric: St Johns College, Mthatha
B Proc (1986) University of Transkei
LLB (1988) University of Natal, Durban
LLM (1990) Duke University, NC, USA
Professional History:
Attorney’s clerk; Dazana Mafungo Inc, Mthatha: 1987-1988
Court Interpreter and Prosecutor; Magistrates’ Court, Mthatha: 1988-1989
Legal Policy Counsel & Lobbyist; Women’s Legal Defense Fund, Washington DC
Assistant State Law Adviser; Mthatha: 1991-1993
Pupillage; Johannesburg Bar: 1993
Law Lecturer; University of Transkei: 1993-1995
Practising Advocate; Transkei Bar: 1994-1999
Acting Judge; Cape High Court & Mthatha High Court: 1999
Judge; Mthatha High Court: 2000
Acting Judge; Labour Court, Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, Bisho High Courts
Acting Judge; Supreme Court of Appeal: 2005
Judge of Appeal; Supreme Court of Appeal: 2006
Acting Judge; Constitutional Court, January to May 2011
Acting Judge; Supreme Court of Namibia: 2008; Appeal Court, Lesotho: 2015
Deputy President; Supreme Court of Appeal: 2015
Acting President; Supreme Court of Appeal: 2016 - 22 May 2017
President; Supreme Court of Appeal: June 2017
Other Activities:
Member of the Judicial Service Commission: 2017 –
Council Member: South African Judicial Education Institute: 2017 -
Founding Member (2002); Deputy President (2008 - 2010); President 2018 to date: South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges
Regional Director: West and Southern Africa; International Association of Women Judges: 2021
Member; Duke University [USA] Bolch Judicial Institute Leadership Council: 2020
Board Member; University of Free State Law Faculty: 2020
Advisory Board Member; Yearbook of South African Law: 2020
Advisory Board Member; South African Law Journal: 2019
Board Member; National Bar Examinations Board: 2016 –
Chairperson; South African Law Reform Commission: 2013 –
Member; Commonwealth Association of Law Reform Commissions: 2013 –
Patron; Lawyers Against Violence: 2013 –
Trustee; South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law: 2012
Honours and Awards:
Duke Law Alumni Association International Award: 2020
LLD (Honoris Causa) Nelson Mandela University 2018
LLD (Honoris Causa) Walter Sisulu University 2019
LLD (Honoris Causa) University of Fort Hare 2020 (conferment deferred for Covid-19)
Editorial Advisory Board Member, South African Law Journal: 2020
South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges Recognition Award for contribution to gender transformation in the judiciary: 2010; 2016
Recipient of the South African Women Lawyers Association History & Icon Programme: 2012
Commonwealth Foundation Fellowship: 2002
Fulbright Scholarship: 1989-1990
Georgetown University Law & Gender Fellowship Program: 1990
