WomenJudges | Womanity

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Judge Khosi Hadebe from the KwaZulu-Natal High Court. Judge Hadebe’s legal career spans decades, tracing a path of perseverance and public service that began in 1979 as a court clerk and interpreter before progressing to prosecutor, legal planner, magistrate, and ultimately High Court judge. The Spark That Lit the Journey Her passion for the law was ignited in her youth while listening to radio court scene dramas on radio like Springbok Radio’s Consider Your Verdict. Despite financial constraints that delayed her initial studies, these broadcasts cemented her determination to pursue no other path than law. Defying Hostility with Student Militancy Entering the University of Zululand during apartheid, Judge Hadebe faced outright hostility from lecturers who questioned why women were studying law instead of nursing or social work. Driven by a militant youth spirit and a shared commitment with peers, including activists connected to Robben Island political prisoners, she refused to back down, viewing her degree as a vital weapon to fight systemic social injustices. Protective Legislation and the Limits of Implementation Reflecting on South Africa’s legislative framework, Judge Hadebe highlights that while strong laws exist to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and protect vulnerable individuals, true progress relies on the people executing them. She emphasises that while police awareness and specialised units have improved, law enforcement must act as a true extension of justice rather than allowing poor attitudes to hinder survivors. The Lived Realities of GBV Victims In discussing matters like the S v Ndlovo gang rape case, Judge Hadebe points out the severe socio-economic vulnerabilities of women and child-headed households living in informal settlements without security resources. She addresses the painful reality that post-judgment, victims are largely left to figure out trauma recovery on their own due to a lack of accessible counselling and support services in underserved communities. Social Context and Integrity on the Bench Having served as a regional court magistrate and worked with the Law, Race, and Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town, Judge Hadebe brings a vital social context to her rulings. She stresses that judges must maintain impeccable personal standards of uprightness and fairness to ensure the public can trust the judicial system implicitly. Overcoming Bias and Proving Competence Addressing the unique struggles faced by African women entering the High Court bench, Judge Hadebe reflects on overcoming deep-seated institutional skepticism. She notes that women must constantly prove their qualifications at higher thresholds, asserting that female judges must stand their ground firmly and demand to be judged solely on their competence. Faith, Family, and Community Support Attributing her resilience to the "school of poverty," Judge Hadebe shares how her background fostered empathy rather than bitterness. Her strength and grounding stem from strong family support, inspired by a courageous late aunt, as well as her active involvement in her church community, where she directly assists impoverished families. A Message to the Next Generation In celebration of Women’s Month, Judge Hadebe encourages young women to step into male-dominated fields with unwavering confidence and challenge authority whenever necessary. She calls on senior women leaders to actively hold the hands of the younger generation, demonstrating that adversity should never stop them from achieving their potential. Special thanks to Lusanda Ntuli the Deputy Director: Communications at the Office of the Chief Justice who makes our annual series showcasing female judges possible. Happy Women’s Month.

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August 27, 2026

Judge Khosi Hadebe – High Court KwaZulu-Natal Division – Courage

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Judge Khosi Hadebe from the KwaZulu-Natal High Court. Judge Hadebe’s legal career spans decades, tracing a path of perseverance and public service that beg...

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Judge Fayeeza Kathree-Setiloane from the Supreme Court of Appeal. Judge Fayeeza Kathree-Setiloane’s career mirrors South Africa’s own journey of transformation. From growing up under apartheid and becoming involved in student and workers’ rights activism, to studying human rights law as a Fulbright Scholar in the United States, her path into law was driven by a deep commitment to public interest and social justice. Breaking Through a Male-Dominated Profession Returning to South Africa in 1994, Judge Kathree-Setiloane entered a legal profession where women faced significant barriers. At the Johannesburg Bar, she encountered gender discrimination, limited access to briefs and expectations that women lawyers would gravitate towards particular areas of law. Rather than being defined by those expectations, she deliberately pursued constitutional, administrative, competition and telecommunications law, while also becoming involved in transforming the Bar itself. The Power of Confidence – and Saying Yes One of the most compelling themes in her story is confidence. Judge Kathree-Setiloane reflects on learning to take risks, overcome perfectionism and accept opportunities even when she did not feel completely prepared. Her experience offers an insightful lesson for women: sometimes you have to say yes first, then trust yourself to learn, grow and deliver. Law as an Instrument for Social Change Her career has placed her at the centre of cases with profound implications for human rights, dignity and equality, including challenges concerning reproductive rights and the constitutional recognition of same-sex relationships. These experiences demonstrate how legal practice can become part of the broader project of transforming society. From Advocate to the Bench Judge Kathree-Setiloane describes deliberately broadening her experience before moving into the judiciary, including gaining commercial exposure outside the traditional advocate pathway. Today, as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal, she brings that breadth of experience to an appellate court that deals with matters ranging from criminal and commercial law to administrative and constitutional matters. How Far Have Women Really Come? Looking beyond legislation and formal equality, the conversation explores the gap between women's constitutional rights and their lived realities. Judge Kathree-Setiloane highlights the continuing influence of power, patriarchy, cultural and religious norms, particularly within homes and communities, and the need for deeper structural change if women are to experience genuine equality and safety. Women, Agency and the Future of Leadership There is also an encouraging story of progress. Judge Kathree-Setiloane points to the growing representation of women in leadership across the judiciary and the emergence of a new generation of confident women lawyers. But representation alone is not enough: she argues that women must bring intellectual leadership to the institutions they lead. The Meaning of Empowerment For Judge Kathree-Setiloane, empowerment goes well beyond a title, position or professional success. It requires ethical, courageous and intellectually grounded leadership. A judge must be fearless, independent, fair and willing to express a dissenting view when necessary, while also remaining open to being persuaded by others. A Message to the Next Generation The conversation closes with an inspiring message to girls and young women: every woman has the potential to become a leader and to contribute to transforming society. Success does not mean sacrificing personal wellbeing or financial achievement; rather, women can build full, successful lives and use their position and resources to give back to society. Special thanks to Lusanda Ntuli the Deputy Director: Communications at the Office of the Chief Justice who makes our annual series showcasing female judges possible. Happy Women’s Month.

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August 21, 2026

Judge Fayeeza Kathree-Setiloane – Supreme Court Of Appeal – Confidence

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Judge Fayeeza Kathree-Setiloane from the Supreme Court of Appeal. Judge Fayeeza Kathree-Setiloane’s career mirrors South Africa’s own journey of transforma...

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Judge Nobulawo Martha Mbhele, the Deputy Judge President of the Free State Division of the High Court. Judge Mbhele’s path to the judiciary was shaped by deeply personal encounters with injustice: the trauma of apartheid police raids during her childhood and the rape and murder of her cousin, a victim of gender-based violence. These painful experiences ignited her determination to use the law as a tool to restore dignity and give voice to the voiceless. She reflects on her journey, growing up on a farm where her father was a labourer with limited resources, and how being in the right place at the right time can change the course of your life. She relays how in a December school holiday she stood in for her mother doing domestic work and the farmer they worked for had collected the post from town and she and the farmer opened her school report, where she had scored 'As' for all her subjects. The farmer was highly impressed with her results and told her when she matriculated, she must tell him what she wanted to do. When she attained her matric, incidentally at the same time as one of her brothers, her father made the courageous decision of choosing to send his daughter to university despite patriarchal expectations of the day and set her on the path to becoming a lawyer. Supported by her family and community, she rose through challenges to eventually hold one of the highest judicial positions in the country. The conversation explores Judge Mbhele’s philosophy of leadership in the judiciary, balancing judicial independence with administrative responsibilities, and her recent experience as an Acting Justice at the Supreme Court of Appeal, where she learned the weight of precision and the value of collective judicial wisdom. Judge Mbhele also shares her unwavering passion for access to justice, recounting her years at Legal Aid South Africa and her dedication to ensuring vulnerable communities have fair representation. She addresses the systemic barriers facing women in the legal profession, including skewed briefing patterns and the urgent need to retain female talent in the system.

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August 28, 2025

Judge Nobulawo Martha Mbhele – Deputy Judge President Free State High Court – Everything is Possible

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Judge Nobulawo Martha Mbhele, the Deputy Judge President of the Free State Division of the High Court. Judge Mbhele’s path to the judiciary was shaped by de...

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Judge Colleen Collis, permanent judge of the Gauteng Division of the High Court. Judge Collis takes us on a powerful journey through her life, from her early childhood in apartheid-era Boksburg to her ascent to the High Court bench, revealing how personal experiences of injustice ignited her pursuit of law and her passion for creating a more equal society. Judge Collis reflects on the formative influence of her activist parents and her community’s boycott campaign, “Save Boksburg”, that challenged racial segregation in her hometown by the black community withdrawing their spending power in Boksburg, ultimately resulting in black people having access to recreational amenities and other facilities. These and other experiences cultivated her determination to fight for fairness. She shares memorable moments from her judicial career, including landmark cases: ordering Julius Malema to apologise for hate speech; ruling against government in the “Deadly Air” case on environmental rights; and expanding recognition for cohabiting partners in loss-of-support claims with the Road Accident Fund. Each judgment underscores her commitment to advancing constitutional rights, gender equality, and social justice. Beyond the courtroom, Judge Collis discusses her leadership in the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (SAC-IAWJ), which champions mentorship, outreach programmes for vulnerable communities, and the professional growth of women in the judiciary. Judge Collis has been an active member of professional associations, including the Black Lawyers Association (BLA) and the Judicial Officers Association of South Africa (JOASA). She speaks candidly about the importance of actively participating in professional organisations that you join and the benefits of networking, role modelling, and ensuring that more women are not only appointed to the bench but also supported to become leaders within the judiciary. Throughout the conversation, she highlights the delicate balance between professional responsibilities and caregiving roles, the progress made by women in law and society, and the pressing need for female leadership in South Africa judicial division. She offers thoughtful perspectives on this year’s Women’s Month theme of building resilient economies for women, urging policies that enable women’s meaningful participation in business and economic growth. Judge Collis closes with deeply personal reflections on the women who shaped her—her grandmother, mother, sister, and church community—and offers words of encouragement to girls and women across the country: speak up, raise your voice, and never remain silent in the face of injustice. Special thanks to Lusanda Ntuli the Deputy Director: Communications at the Office of the Chief Justice who makes our annual series showcasing female judges possible. Happy women’s month. Tune in for more…

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August 21, 2025

Judge Colleen Collis – Gauteng High Court – Speak Up

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Judge Colleen Collis, permanent judge of the Gauteng Division of the High Court. Judge Collis takes us on a powerful journey through her life, from her early ...

Tag: WomenJudges

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Judge Khosi Hadebe – High Court KwaZulu-Natal Division – Courage

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Judge Fayeeza Kathree-Setiloane – Supreme Court Of Appeal – Confidence

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Judge Nobulawo Martha Mbhele – Deputy Judge President Free State High Court – Everything is Possible

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Judge Colleen Collis – Gauteng High Court – Speak Up

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Tag: WomenJudges

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Judge Khosi Hadebe – High Court KwaZulu-Natal Division – Courage

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Judge Fayeeza Kathree-Setiloane – Supreme Court Of Appeal – Confidence

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Judge Nobulawo Martha Mbhele – Deputy Judge President Free State High Court – Everything is Possible

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Judge Colleen Collis – Gauteng High Court – Speak Up

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