Thembisile Mahuwa works for the Unisa Law Clinic and provides free quality legal services to indigent people, ensuring access to justice and legal representation for all. The 29-year-old also runs free legal education workshops for students, entrepreneurs and the community. When Thembisile was doing her articles at the law clinic she was part of a group that started three legal clinics in three provinces. She says her greatest achievement is that she has won all her cases that she has undertaken in the past two years. Thembisile says she was inspired to make a difference when she was volunteering with the Youth Crime Prevention Desk in Vosloorus while she was studying towards her law degree, when she realised that people did not know the law and that it was there to protect them. Thembisile, who started doing voluntary work at the age of 15, now runs free legal workshops for NGOs and members of the community. Her role model is Frene Ginwala, the first speaker of the National Assembly after apartheid, because she used her education to advance human rights.
Civilian Oversight certificate, University of the Witwatersrand
Bachelor of Laws, Unisa
Honours in Policy Making, Thabo Mbeki School
Master of Laws Candidat, Unisa
While serving my articles at the Unisa Law Clinic, I was part of a collective that launched three new free legal clinics in three provinces. This meant ensuring the communities of these areas would be able to receive proper legal assistance and support. My biggest achievement is that in the past two years, I have won 100% of my finalised cases in favour of my clients. This is to say, without my assistance, they wouldn’t have been able to afford legal services which means they would not have had access to justice. I have learned that hard work needs to be coupled with passion and that the end results are always worth it.
Dr Frene Ginwala, who played a big role in establishing the democracy we continue to enjoy in South Africa. She is my role model because she epitomises the kind of impact I endeavour to achieve and advance in society. A change that can live on even when I am not around. My mentor is my aunt, Mantombi Khorombi, whose daily teachings are to serve with an intentional, pure heart.