Thuli Madonsela: irresistible force of justice

Abstract

Although Thulisile (Thuli) Madonsela's family originates from Swaziland, she was born in Soweto in 1962 to Bafana and Nomasonto Madonsela, who were both traders. She attended the Evelyn Baring High School in Nhlangano, Swaziland. Madonsela started working at 18, and was an assistant teacher between 1980 and 1983. Shortly thereafter, she took on work as a legal and education officer at the Paper Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union, while pursuing her BA degree in law at the University of Swaziland. Following her graduation in 1987, she furthered her studies at the University of Witwatersrand, where she completed her LLB in 1990. Thuli Madonsela has worked in various government departments, civil society organisations and academia. She was one of the drafters of South Africa's Constitution in 1994, and has worked as a presiding officer at the Independent Electoral Commission. She was also a deputy director at the Justice Department, focusing on managing the office of the status of women in the Presidency.