Tag: women in law

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Professor Tracy-Lynn Field, who is a leading environmental law scholar and the Claude Leon Foundation Chair in Earth Justice and Stewardship held by the University of the Witwatersrand, with over two decades of experience in climate, water, and environmental justice. She serves on several advisory boards, including the Presidential Climate Change Commission. Her work bridges research, policy, and advocacy, shaping more equitable and sustainable responses to the climate and biodiversity crises. Professor Field reflects on how her journey into environmental justice began in childhood, driven by a profound empathy for animals and a deep awareness of humanity’s interconnectedness with nature. From secretly writing letters to magazines as an 11-year-old about animal welfare to becoming one of South Africa’s foremost environmental legal scholars, she explains how activism, compassion, and a sense of responsibility shaped her life’s work. Understanding Earth Justice and Stewardship Professor Field unpacks the work of the Claude Leon Foundation Chair in Earth Justice and Stewardship, a multidisciplinary initiative focused on climate law, water justice, energy transitions, mining, and environmental governance. She discusses how collaboration across disciplines, particularly between law, geography, engineering, and policy is essential in responding to today’s environmental crises. A major focus of the discussion centres on a groundbreaking five-year research project conducted in partnership with the South African Human Rights Commission, examining the progressive realisation of the constitutional right to water across South Africa. Water Justice, Accountability and the Hidden Reality of Water Access Professor Field highlights one of the realities behind water access in South Africa. While statistics often show that households have taps within close proximity, Professor Field explains that the real issue is whether water actually flows consistently from those taps. She highlights the lack of reliable data on water stoppages and interruptions, arguing that communities, especially women, continue to bear the burden when water systems fail. The discussion reveals how women are disproportionately affected by unreliable water access through increased caregiving responsibilities, physical labour, safety concerns, and emotional stress. The conversation also draws attention to smaller towns and municipalities that are frequently overlooked in national water debates, despite facing severe infrastructure and service delivery challenges. Climate Change Is Already Reshaping Law and Society Professor Field introduces the concept of “climate risk litigation,” arguing that climate litigation in Africa is already happening, but often in forms that global legal databases fail to recognise. Rather than focusing only on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, African climate litigation is increasingly emerging through cases linked to floods, droughts, wildfires, insurance disputes, and climate-related disasters. She shares fascinating insights into her research on wildfire litigation in South Africa, explaining how courts are already adapting legal principles to account for worsening climate risks and environmental instability. The interview highlights how climate change is no longer a future threat but a present reality already influencing governance, infrastructure, insurance systems, ecosystems, and community survival. The Interconnected Nature of Environmental Crises Throughout the discussion, Professor Field repeatedly emphasises the interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and social systems. She uses the example of rising global copper prices following climate-related disruptions at a mine in Indonesia to illustrate how climate events can trigger global economic ripple effects that impact infrastructure, development, energy transitions, and even theft and criminal activity. She illustrates a systems-thinking perspective on climate change, demonstrating how water, mining, energy, law, economics, biodiversity, and social justice cannot be addressed in isolation. Women, Leadership and Challenging Patriarchal Systems In a deeply honest and reflective segment, Professor Field speaks candidly about navigating patriarchal environments both personally and professionally. She discusses the importance of women trusting their instincts, supporting one another, and refusing to normalise aggressive or dismissive behaviour in professional spaces. She shares a particularly difficult experience involving gendered hostility within a professional project environment, explaining how she confronted the unacceptable behaviour and continued leading with integrity. Her example demonstrates reflection on mentorship, emotional intelligence, resilience, and the importance of women creating supportive ecosystems for future generations of female leaders. Opportunities for Women in Climate Justice and Green Innovation Professor Field expresses great optimism about the opportunities emerging for women and young people in climate adaptation, environmental entrepreneurship, and sustainability innovation. One especially inspiring story features a group of women from Sebokeng who designed machinery to recycle waste polystyrene into energy-saving “Wonder Bags” used for cooking. Their innovation not only reduces waste pollution but also dramatically lowers household gas usage, demonstrating how grassroots women-led innovation can drive both environmental and economic transformation. The discussion highlights how many climate adaptation roles already exist informally within communities and why recognising these as legitimate economic opportunities could transform livelihoods across Africa. South Africa’s Climate Change Act and the Future of Environmental Governance The interview also examines South Africa’s new Climate Change Act and its significance for policy, accountability, and long-term institutional change. Professor Field explains how the legislation establishes important planning obligations for adaptation and mitigation, while also embedding environmental dependency principles into law — recognising that economic systems ultimately depend on healthy ecosystems. She argues that the law represents a critical shift away from development models that prioritize economic growth at the expense of environmental sustainability. Lessons in Leadership, Purpose and Tenacity Towards the close of the conversation, Professor Field reflects on the personal experiences that shaped her success, including her decision to move beyond traditional academic work into environmental activism and advocacy. She emphasises the importance of relationships, mentorship, focused thinking, service, and purpose-driven leadership. She also shares how personal challenges, including her child’s severe health struggles, taught her resilience, tenacity, belief, not letting go and never walking away. “Women of Africa, You Are Divine” Ending on a deeply uplifting note, Professor Field shares inspiration drawn from Miriam Makeba and her song Amaliya, reminding women across Africa to recognize your divinity and to see yourself not just as an intellectual being, but as a spiritual being, an emotional being, an intellectual being. Her final message is both poetic and empowering: “Women of Africa, you are divine.” Tune in for more

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May 22, 2026

Professor Tracy-Lynn Field: Claude Leon Foundation Chair in Earth Justice and Stewardship, University of Witwatersrand

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Professor Tracy-Lynn Field, who is a leading environmental law scholar and the Claude Leon Foundation Chair in Earth Justice and Stewardship held by the Univer...

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks to Professor Bernadine Benson about her professional journey, spanning nearly two decades in policing and a transformative transition into academia. Her story is one of resilience, identity, and continuous evolution, shaped by hardship, purpose and faith. A Childhood of Instability and the Drive to Excel Born into a working-class family with an English mother and Afrikaans father, Prof Benson’s early life was marked by constant movement and instability, attending seven different primary schools. This environment fostered both loneliness and a fierce internal drive, pushing her toward academic and athletic excellence as a means of coping and self-definition. Her entry into the South African Police Service at just 17 years old was a calling rooted in a desire to succeed. A Career in Policing: Discipline, Identity, and Power Prof Benson’s policing career was defined by discipline, structure, and achievement. Rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, she thrived in a system built on hierarchy and command. Yet, this environment also shaped a rigid worldview, one that prioritised performance over empathy and authority over reflection. Her identity became deeply intertwined with her rank and role, which symbolised both power and belonging. The Turning Point: Letting Go of Identity A pivotal moment came when Prof Benson realised that her sense of self was rooted in her professional identity rather than internal values. This realisation catalysed her transition from policing into academia at UNISA, a move marked by uncertainty, fear, and profound personal growth. In leaving behind authority, she began developing emotional and spiritual intelligence, learning to lead with compassion rather than command. Learning to Listen: Emotional Intelligence and Transformation Prof Benson describes her evolution as one shaped by “hard knocks” and critical self-reflection. Exposure to new ideas, particularly through transformation and decoloniality dialogues, challenged her deeply ingrained beliefs and cultural “default settings.” These experiences forced her to confront uncomfortable truths about bias, identity, and how her actions impacted others, ultimately reshaping her leadership style into one centred in empathy, listening, and openness. Navigating Male-Dominated Spaces Throughout her career, Prof Benson faced significant challenges as a woman in male-dominated environments. She speaks candidly about patriarchal dynamics, tokenism, and the pressure placed on women to perform in roles they may not yet be supported to succeed in. Her strategy for survival and influence evolved: learning to “read the room,” adapt communication styles, and reframe ideas to gain traction without compromising integrity. Uncovering Hidden Crimes: Art Theft and Heritage Protection One of the most fascinating aspects of her career is her work in art and heritage crime investigations. Prof Benson highlights the often-overlooked scale of these crimes, noting that high-profile heists are just the “tip of the iceberg.” She exposes systemic weaknesses—poor inventory systems, undertrained staff, and lack of funding—that make cultural institutions vulnerable. Importantly, she reframes these crimes as societal losses, not victimless acts, as they erode collective heritage and identity. The Future of Policing: Technology Meets Theory Turning to the future, Prof Benson explores the role of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in law enforcement. While acknowledging the potential of tools like voice analysis and AI, she cautions against uncritical adoption, highlighting the dangers of pseudoscience and poorly implemented systems. She advocates strongly for intelligence-driven policing grounded in criminological theory—arguing that without foundational knowledge, even the most advanced technologies will fail to deliver meaningful impact. A Crisis of Values: Society, Policing, and Ubuntu A recurring theme in the conversation is the erosion of moral values in society. Prof Benson connects systemic issues in policing to broader societal challenges, including corruption, lack of accountability, and weakened ethical foundations. She calls for a return to fundamental principles, starting with early education, and emphasises the importance of Ubuntu not just as a concept, but as a lived practice. The Personal Foundations of Success Beyond her professional achievements, Prof Benson attributes her success to deeply personal influences: her faith, a resilient mother, a supportive marriage, and mentors who guided her growth. These relationships provided stability and grounding, enabling her to navigate uncertainty and remain committed to lifelong learning. A Philosophy for Life and Leadership Prof Benson leaves us with a philosophy that inspires self confidence: Never stop learning Embrace discomfort and challenge your beliefs Receive criticism with reflection, not defensiveness Measure success not by titles, but by humanity She describes herself as a “potter,” shaping the lives of those she encounters. A metaphor that underscores the responsibility of leadership and the impact of everyday interactions. Tune in for more…

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April 3, 2026

Professor Bernadine Benson: SAPS, College of Law, UNISA – Faith

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks to Professor Bernadine Benson about her professional journey, spanning nearly two decades in policing and a transformative transition into academia. Her story is o...

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Judge Esther Steyn, permanent judge of the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court, acting judge of the Electoral Court, and acting judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal. Judge Steyn’s legal journey began with a Department of Justice scholarship straight out of school. A path inspired by a deeply personal childhood experience of witnessing her father’s humiliation due to poverty. That moment sparked her lifelong mission to understand people’s rights and use the law to protect them. Many years later a childhood friend reminded her that when they were ten years old that she had said, “One day, I will be a judge in this country.” She reflects on her time in academia at the Universities of Cape Town and Western Cape, where she worked and studied simultaneously. Her writings championed victims’ rights long before South Africa had a Victims’ Charter. Her determination to uphold the right to liberty saw her challenging aspects of bail legislation, highlighting the fine balance between public safety and individual freedoms. Judge Steyn shares candid accounts of gender discrimination in the early years of her career, including overtly sexist remarks from senior colleagues, and how she chose to rise above them through excellence and perseverance. She contrasts those times with today’s judiciary, where policies like the sexual harassment code championed by the current female Chief Justice, Mandisa Maya, offer far greater protections for women. The conversation delves into high-profile and impactful cases she has presided over, from a landmark Facebook service judgment to the complex State v Zuma proceedings. She recounts her pivotal role in South Africa’s first Presidential Commission on Corruption, the Jali Commission, which exposed systemic corruption in Correctional Services, addressed prisoner abuse, and proposed reforms that, she laments, remain largely unimplemented. Beyond the courtroom, Judge Steyn is passionate about mentorship and training, having guided many young women into judicial roles, emphasising that their achievements are their own. She believes in “pulling others up” and sees empowering the next generation as a vital way to strengthen the judiciary and society. As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, she offers inspiration for women and girls to persist in their studies, work hard, and never abandon their dreams out of fear of failure. Her message is clear: “If you start something, finish it – and remember, the only thing that makes your dream impossible is your fear of not achieving it.” Tune in for more…

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August 14, 2025

Judge Esther Steyn – KZN High Court, Electoral Court, Supreme Court of Appeal – Dream

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Judge Esther Steyn, permanent judge of the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court, acting judge of the Electoral Court, and acting judge of the Supreme Cour...

Welcome to Womanity Women in Unity, join us for our new year broadcast with a compilation of voices from female leaders in politics, the judiciary and medicine talking about aspects of their journeys. Our first guest in this feature is South Africa’s Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, who shares her passion and vision for transforming education in South Africa, impacting the lives of 13,500,000 learners. Drawing inspiration from her upbringing in a typical South African household, raised by her grandmother, Minister Gwarube reflects on her grandmother’s influence as a trailblazing feminist whose relentless pursuit of quality education shaped her life. Many South Africans straddle multiple worlds, such as living in a village and schooling or working in a city. Our next guest, High Court Judge Jacqueline Henriques demonstrates how law and policy can be used to drive change that supports and protects the rights of women. She highlights some of the recent amendments to domestic violence legislation, such as stricter bails imposed on persons charged with domestic violence offences and harsher now prescribed for offences related to gender-based violence. The Act has expanded its definition of what constitutes domestic violence, encompassing physical abuse, spiritual abuse, economic abuse, controlling behaviour, harassment, intimidation, elder abuse, and related person abuse to name a few. The Act now also requires the community to play an active role in stopping the scourge of domestic violence it is mandatory for the public to report incidences or reasonable suspicions of domestic violence, and also criminalises the failure of a person to report such abuse. Closing today’s programme is orthopaedic spine surgeon Dr Lusanda Bomela (women account for just 5% of all orthopaedic surgeons in South Africa). Dr Bomela shares how her interest in the spine, coupled to the fact that few women take up this area of specialisation motivated her to pursue her studies in this field. One of her hopes is that she sets an example to encourage other women to take up orthopaedics and specifically spine as a specialisation.  Medicine can be a demanding career choice, but this profession does not preclude women from having a family life. Dr Bomela notes how having the right support structure in place enables her to be a spine surgeon, mother, wife, mentor and teacher. She reflects that it is not possible to be everything to everybody all the time but with a team ethos and good communication everything is doable. Dr Bomela is passionate about learning and has a deep desire to share education with others, which is part of her maternal philosophy, she believes that if we have a skill it must be passed on or used to better someone else. We have a responsibility to empower the next generation by imparting what we know to them, both in terms of skills and enlightenment. She tells us how her grandmother used to walk her mother to school 20km away for the sake of education, and years later part of her grandmother’s legacy was establishing a school 500m from her house, so no children in the village had an excuse not to be educated. Happy New Year from Womanity wishing you peace and prosperity in 2025.

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January 1, 2025

2025, New Beginnings: No Limits

Welcome to Womanity Women in Unity, join us for our new year broadcast with a compilation of voices from female leaders in politics, the judiciary and medicine talking about aspects of their journeys. Our first guest ...

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, for our series on women in the judiciary, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Judge Portia Nkutha-Nkontwana from the Labour Appeal Court. Judge Nkutha-Nkontwana shares how family meetings, where the household were called to “The Table” to resolve challenges or mete out discipline introduced her to dispute resolution and gave a foundation to her career in labour law. Law and legislation have been, and are, powerful tools to advance women’s rights. We discuss some of the important equality gains that women have attained. For example, access to equal education. Judge Nkutha-Nkontwana narrates a personal experience of when she started studying law, her professor complained that there were too many women in his class which caused many of them to deregister from law and pursue alternative studies. The second element we discuss is having female role  models in your profession. They provide visibility of what is possible.  The third aspect is policy changes and instituting deliberate legislation to change gender imbalances in institutions. For example, we now see greater representation of women on boards and in executive positions, where they occupy decision making roles. It is important that we recognise gains can be lost, and in order to uphold women’s rights we need all stakeholders in the legal justice chain to play their part. Happy Women’s Day. Tune in for more….

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August 9, 2024

Judge Portia Nkutha-Nkontwana – Labour Appeal Court – Justice Always

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, for our series on women in the judiciary, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Judge Portia Nkutha-Nkontwana from the Labour Appeal Court. Judge Nkutha-Nkontwana shares how family me...

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, for our series on women in the judiciary, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Judge Jacqueline Henriques of the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court. Judge Henriques comes from a family of educators and initially wanted to follow in their footsteps but was dissuaded by her father. She registered for a BProc at university with the intention of switching over to degree in education, however soon found her passion for law.  For aspiring law students, she recommends focusing on your goals and acquiring as much practical experience as possible. She shares some of the qualities of being a judicial officer, such as impartiality, independence, integrity, ethics, empathy and more… Judge Henriques highlights some of recent amendments to domestic violence legislation, such as stricter bails imposed on persons charged with domestic violence offences and harsher now prescribed for offences related to gender-based violence. The Act has expanded its definition of what constitutes domestic violence, encompassing physical abuse, spiritual abuse, economic abuse, controlling behaviour, harassment, intimidation, elder abuse, and related person abuse to name a few. The Act now also requires the community to play an active role in stopping the scourge of domestic violence it is mandatory for the public to report incidences or reasonable suspicions of domestic violence, and also criminalises the failure of a person to report such abuse. We discuss how policy can be used to drive change to support women, however, remark that implementation and monitoring of implementation is actually what drives change.  Judge Henriques appeals to women to help each other, to support each other and advance each other, so that we all make a positive impact on the world. Tune in for more…

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August 2, 2024

Judge Jacqueline Henriques – KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court– Perseverance and Service

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, for our series on women in the judiciary, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Judge Jacqueline Henriques of the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court. Judge Henriques comes from ...

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, for our series on women in the judiciary, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Judge Katharine Savage of the Western Cape High Court, Judge of the Labour Appeal Court and Acting Deputy Judge President of the Labour Courts and the Labour Appeal Court. Judge Savage’s family motivated her to pursue a career in law, in part, to be able to change society. For example, she went ton to participate in the negotiations and writing of the final draft of the South African Constitution. Legislation has a powerful impact on driving reform and changing national ecosystems, whether it be social, economic or political constructs. Judge Savage participates in several societies organisations in the legal field, such as the  Southern African Legal Information Institute (SAFLII) 2004 and South African Society for Labour Law. She has also been elected by the United Nations General Assembly to serve as a Judge of the United Nations Appeal Tribunal. Judge Savage shares some of the responsibilities of being a judge, emphasising the importance of being independently minded, being brave in your judgements, standing by your views and at times shifting your perspectives. One of the secrets to Judge Savage’s ability to manage multiple roles is structuring her life to enable her to participate in different forums. Furthermore, she approaches her work with an efficiency mindset and has learnt not be a perfectionist. Judge Savage emphasises the importance of human values, knowing who we are as individuals, appreciating people from different backgrounds and encouraging people to get to their best selves. We all have our own journey and challenges, which we should consider as opportunities for growth. Tune in for more…

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July 26, 2024

Judge Katharine Savage – Western Cape Division of the High Court & Labour Appeal Court – Human Values

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, for our series on women in the judiciary, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Judge Katharine Savage of the Western Cape High Court, Judge of the Labour Appeal Court and Acting Deputy ...

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to the Minister of Justice from the Republic of Namibia, Yvonne Dausab. Prior to this appointment she served as the Chairperson of the Law Reform and Development Commission, and previously occupied the role of  Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Namibia. Minister Dausab shares some of the factors that contributed to her pursuit of a career in law, including historical context, particularly living through Apartheid as a tool of oppression that used laws to implement its systems, experiencing the trauma of a family member being murdered and residing in an environment threatened by criminal activity. Under Minister Dausab’s leadership the Ministry of Justice drives a significant legislature agenda, both informed by other ministries and its own activities, additionally it aims to fulfil to key strategic objectives namely the provision of legal services and access to justice. In terms of access to justice, initiatives include improving access to legal aid for people who need representation, developing the small claims court system and establishing  community. Some of Minister Dausab’s leadership strategies encompass supporting other women, focussing on key areas of your mandate and avoiding distractions, building relationships across party and gender lines to understand different points of view, reading widely, participating in activities that bring out your strengths and showing up. Namibia has made significant strides in promoting gender equality and women's rights. For example, both Namibia’s prime minister and deputy prime minister are women. A few of the reasons for Namibia strength in the gender equality stakes follow. Firstly, the ruling party took a decision to have a policy entrenched in their constitution that said there must be 50/50 representation in any activity that the SWAPO party undertakes. Secondly, Namibia actively participates in international and regional levels in promoting gender equality. Thirdly, Namibia has very good policies and recently reviewed its national gender policy to assess how has the country has progressed and is presently developing a new gender policy for the next ten years. Tune in for more...

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September 20, 2023

The Minister of Justice from the Republic of Namibia – Yvonne Dausab

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to the Minister of Justice from the Republic of Namibia, Yvonne Dausab. Prior to this appointment she served as the Chairperson of the Law Reform and ...

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Judge Soma Naidoo from the Free State Division of the High Court, who shares part of her journey to the bench. In early childhood Judge Naidoo came face-to-face with injustices of apartheid and was aware that the “law” was the instrument of discrimination, these experiences motivated her to change the “law”. Her path was not easy, but she stayed the course pursuing excellence in all her endeavours and proving her worth. Judge Naidoo shares some of the impactful cases she has worked on from criminal, to political, to industrial and domestic matters. Arriving at a judgement and suitable sentence is no easy task, and sometimes judges are faced with the worst aspects of humanity, but justice must still be metered out impartially. She mentions some of the strategies she uses to debrief and look out for her well-being as well as colleagues. Judge Naidoo offers several pieces of advice to aspirant lawyers and judges, which include networking, pursuing their academic studies and seeking mentorship to guide and support them throughout their careers. She also mentions a poem, called the “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann, which is an inspirational prose that offers sound philosophies for living a good life, regardless of age.   Tune in for more…

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September 6, 2023

Judge Soma Naidoo from the Free State Division of the High Court

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Judge Soma Naidoo from the Free State Division of the High Court, who shares part of her journey to the bench. In early childhood Judge Naidoo cam...

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Judge Raylene Keightley, a permanent judge of the Gauteng Division of the High Court, who is currently serving as Acting Judge for the Supreme Court of Appeal. Judge Keightley has an accomplished academic career and her transition into practice was prompted by an opportunity from the National Prosecuting Authority’s role in a new act for the prevention of organised crime and establishing the asset forfeiture unit which deals with the seizure of criminal assets. Judge Keightley shares some of the types of legal suits she deals with, such as emotive cases with family law and the urgency of burial matters; and in her job as a judge to do her best within the ambit of the law without fear or favour and to show compassion and dignity towards litigants. The South African judiciary has transformed over the years to represent race and gender demographics of the country. One of the mechanisms for advancing the development of women judges is the South African Chapter of The International Association of Women’s Judges. The sisterhood among members, enables judges and magistrates to learn about each other and get to know one another and continue to develop.   Justice Keightley reminds women that they are strong in their core, they must believe in themselves and to know what their substance is and pursue it. Tune in for more…

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August 30, 2023

Judge Raylene Keightley from the Gauteng Division of the High Court

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Judge Raylene Keightley, a permanent judge of the Gauteng Division of the High Court, who is currently serving as Acting Judge for the Supreme Cour...

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