Justice
26
Legal Practice Council
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Bonolo Kumalo, 26, is an advocate of the High Court of South Africa, Legal Practice Council. She was awarded Top Achievers in 2017, from the University of the Western Cape, and for voluntary work in Street Law UWC. Bonolo completed her LLM in Alternative Dispute Resolution at Stellenbosch University in a year, 2019.
She is a brilliant litigant, however, what makes her special is her passion for Human Rights cases. Working alongside the South African Refugee Led-Network (SARLN) as well as being a member of the Global Strategic Litigation Council For Refugee Rights (Zolberg Institute, The New School), her role is to litigate for the voiceless and marginalised — refugees, migrants and asylum seekers. Bonolo runs her own practice, where she specialises in general civil litigation, labour law, medical malpractice, cyber law, family law, access to information, human rights law, and constitutional law.
“We have the best constitution in the world, however, we lack in implementation. The justice system needs order, and our government (executive and parliamentary) needs order. If we have all of those, all branches below would be flawless. Less corruption, employed youth and job opportunities, good court practices and justice for all, good healthcare and less crime,” says Bonolo.
- I pursued an LLB in 2015 at the University of the Western Cape and finished in record time in 2018.
- Pursued an LLM ( Masters in Laws) in Alternative Dispute Resolution, at Stellenbosch University in 2019 and finished at the end of the year 2019.
- Top Achievers in 2017, from the University of the Western Cape
- Awarded for voluntary work in Street Law UWC
- Working with Adv. Johan Hattingh SC.
It is when my granny said I would be a lawyer as she sees in it my character. However, she said I wouldn’t be an ordinary lawyer. I’d be a lawyer who is greatly interested in helping those without a voice. I’d be a lawyer to the voiceless and marginalised. That memory has been dear to my heart, as now I’m involved in Human Rights Law matters in the gamut of Refugees, with the South African Refugee Led-Network as well as I am a member of the Global Strategic Litigation Council For Refugee Rights (Zolberg Institute, The New School) where my role is to litigate for the voiceless and marginalised — refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers.
The advice I would give my younger self is, to be patient, trust yourself, do not doubt yourself no matter what the naysayers say. Just go for any and everything you have put your mind into, work hard to achieve it, and achieve it.
I would like for South Africa to have an order. In the sense of truly implementing our Constitution. We have the best Constitution in the World, however, we lack implementation. The justice system needs order, and our government (both the executive and parliamentary) needs order.
If we have all of those, all branches below would be flawless. Less corruption, employed youth and job opportunities, good court practices and justice for all, good healthcare, less crime, and overall a better South Africa for all who live in it.