Sisters In Conversation

After graduating Cum Laude with an LLB degree from the University of Pretoria, Buhle joined a leading intellectual property law firm where she practiced as an attorney. Her areas of focus were in the fields of intellectual property law and commercial litigation.

After completing one year as an associate, Buhle decided to pursue a career in advocacy. Once she completed her pupillage, Buhle joined the Victoria Mxenge Group of advocates at the end of 2011. Her areas of practice include intellectual property law, competition law, media and entertainment law, telecommunications law, constitutional and administrative law, procurement law and general commercial litigation.

Buhle also holds a BCom: Economics and a BA: Politics, Philosophy and Economics.

Buhle is a recipient of the prestigious Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans award for 2017 in the Justice and Law category.

Buhle is also a recipient of the Avance Media 100 Most Influential South Africans award for 2018 in the Law and Governance Category.

Buhle is presently reading for her Master’s degree in Human Rights Advocacy and Litigation at the University of the Witswatersrand.

Buhle has definitely ensured that excellence remains her brand. Tune in to hear about Buhle’s journey in the legal profession and how continues to be a trailblazing woman in law.

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At just 27, Mpho Chitapi became the youngest Black female Partner at ENSAfrica, Africa’s largest law firm. This Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) attorney achieved a meteoric rise to the Executive of ENSafrica. She currently occupies the role of Group Technology Head: Legal at Nedbank Limited. Her story is as inspirational as it is empowering, and her journey from humble beginnings as a young Black girl from Vosloorus with big dreams, to having a seat at the table of the best legal minds in Africa, is a living manifestation of the current zeitgeist of Black excellence, the empowerment of young Black professionals and the affirmation that the dreams and aspirations of young Black children remain valid and achievable.

Mpho’s story begins in the township of Vosloorus, where she grew up as the last born in a family of 3 siblings. She demonstrated academic excellence by matriculating in 2009 with 7 Distinctions from the National School of the Arts, and going on to become the first member of her family to complete a University degree (an LLB from the Wits). In the second year of her studies at Wits, Mpho was hand-picked as an outstanding candidate by the recruiters of ENSafrica, and recognising her value potential, they offered her a full scholarship to cover tuition and costs for the remainder of her degree, on condition that she would complete her articles with the firm.

It was this moment that changed the course of her life, and set her on a trajectory that would see her breaking down barriers and breaking through ceilings in ways she could only have dreamed of. In an environment that is not particularly geared towards the upliftment and advancement of Black professionals, Mpho has faced those challenges head on and proven herself an exceptional & capable TMT lawyer. She has driven some of the largest and most complex TMT transactions in recent years, and has built a fire brand as a thought leader in her field, with a volume of published articles, technical blogs, and high profile media and expert panel appearances to her name. Mpho’s exemplary performance over the years did not go unrecognised, and in 2019, she was welcomed into the Partnership of ENSafrica, the youngest Black female ever to achieve this milestone. Mpho was also named one of the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans of 2019. She is also a finalist for the SA Professional Services Awards for Young Law Professional of the Year which awards are to be held in 2020.

Her achievements are no small feat. According to research conducted by LexisNexis from data provided by the Law Society of South Africa, Black female attorneys make up only 15% of the over 24,000 attorneys in South Africa. They are the least represented demographic. This speaks to the difficulty of making it as a Black female attorney in South Africa, where one often has to work twice as hard to receive half the recognition.

Mpho continues to demonstrate an extraordinary level of determination, drive and diligence in her commitment to her craft as a TMT specialist and in 2019 she obtained her Master of Laws in Information and Communications Law from Wits. At the core of her motivations in life is the empowerment and upliftment of women in general, and Black women in particular. She has embodied Black Excellence in a way that will forever inspire and ignite the dreamer in every Black child who hears her story.

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Manchadi Kekana is a Senior Associate at ENSafrica Incorporated, the largest law firm on the continent. She practices in the Insolvency, Restructuring and Business Rescue Department.

Her practice area is mainly business rescue and restructuring, and she has had the privilege of working on some notable business rescues in the country. The bulk of the work she does is with major banks and business rescue practitioners.

Manchadi obtained her BA Law and International Relations, and her LLB both at the University of the Witwatersrand.

During her University days, she served as an SRC Representative who sat on the Wits Legal Office for 2 and half years, where together with two other University Representatives they presided over student cases and made findings as contemplated in the University Rules. She also served in SRC subcommittees and was elected as the first female Chairperson of the Law Student Council.

After graduating she began her corporate journey at ENSAfrica as a Candidate Attorney where she is a now Senior Associate.

Tune in to hear about how Manchadi navigates the legal profession and how she believes women in the legal profession can fight the domestic violence pandemic in South Africa.

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Kholofelo Sekele is an Attorney who specializes in ICT and commercial law, with an extensive background in Dispute Resolution.

She is currently working as Legal Specialist at Liquid Telecom, which has the largest digital footprint in Africa. Kholofelo is excited about how 4IR is quickly rooting itself in the African market, with South Africa being at the forefront and her company having the largest spectrum.

Kholofelo is passionate about youth development and educating communities about their constitutional rights.

She is also a continuous contributor to the Sister In Law platform, focusing on wills and estate planning.

Tune in to hear about how Kholofelo navigates the legal profession and how she believes transformation can be implemented in corporate South Africa.

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Amanda Manyame is an African Technology Lawyer specialising in tech policy & regulation. She is a proponent of public interest technology who advocates for policy and regulatory development that creates an enabling environment for technological advancements that do not risk human rights. She advises and conducts research on tech laws and policies and anticipates the legal risks associated with technological innovation. She works extensively with civil society organizations, the private sector, government and policymakers.

She is pursuing a Master of Laws in Information and Communications Law with a focus on the implications of big data analytics on data privacy. She is also an African School on Internet Governance Alumni. Tag us on Instagram @sister_in_law_ and @amandamanyame #staysafe #lockdown

Tumelo Rantao obtained her law degree from the University of Western Cape. She joined the Johannesburg Bar in 2016 after completing her pupilage at Group21. Tumelo has appeared at the Johannesburg and Pretoria High Courts as well as the Labour Court.

Her practice areas include, but are not limited to, banking & finance, insolvency, human rights, insurance and constitutional law.

Tune in to hear about Tumelo’s journey to becoming an advocate and how she navigates issues of transformation in the Bar.

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Remember: your contribution towards the fight against the corona virus makes a huge difference. Please please please practice social distancing and stay home if you can. The aim is to flatten the curve and that can only be done if you take responsibility for your sake, your family’s sake and for the sake of the country at large.

Rethabile Seema is an advocate who is currently serving her articles of clerkship in order to transition from advocacy to becoming an attorney. She holds an LLM from the University of Johannesburg where she also worked as a lecturer. Her love for academics now has her pursing her PHD in Law (LLD).

Rethabile is a wife and a mother to three beautiful boys.

Tune in to hear about Rethabile’s academic journey and the challenges she has observed and experienced as a Black woman in academics and in the legal profession.

Rate the podcast and leave your review here, and also tag us on Instagram: @sister_in_law_ and @rethabileseema

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Purchase tickets to the next I am Lady Justice workshop which is a high impact workshop focusing on educating women on legal issues pertaining to marriage contracts, divorce, child maintenance, Wills, estate planning, and financial planning. Tickets are R250 on www.quicket.co.za search “I am Lady Justice workshop” and choose your city (Pretoria, Joburg, Cape Town, Durban, Rustenburg).

Zimasa Qolohle Mabuse is the Head of Legal & Compliance at Yalu, a black-owned Insuretech start-up that has been hailed as a company that will rattle and disrupt the cage of the multi-billion rand South African insurance industry.

After attaining her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and subsequently her Masters in Corporate Law (LLM) from the University of Johannesburg, Zimasa joined a large Top 5 Bank’s Graduate Programme where she fulfilled  her role as an Africa Regions Compliance Manager.

Zimasa is also the founder of the award-wining “The Corporate Canvas” which is a contemporary magazine for young professionals.

Tune in to hear how passionate Zimasa is about eradicating domestic violence from our immediate social circles and how we should never stop making noise about this social ill.

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Visit our website: www.sisterinlaw.co.za

Purchase tickets to the next I am Lady Justice workshop which is a high impact workshop focusing on legal issues pertaining to marriage contracts, marriage, divorce, child maintenance, Wills and estate planning, and financial literacy. Tickets are R250 on www.quicket.co.za search “I am Lady Justice workshop” and choose your city (Pretoria, Joburg, Cape Town, Durban, Rustenburg)

Aurelia Hlobsile Nxumalo obtained her LLB from UNISA and she is a Corporate Legal Counsel by profession whose day to day duties include drafting, vetting and reviewing contracts as well as attending to any legal or governance matters for the organisation. She is a budding Social Entrepreneur and co-founder of The Professionista. The work she does through The Professionista empowers other young women, which in turn empowers her. Aurelia is an advocate for personal and professional development. Aurelia has her vision set on obtaining her Master’s in Information Technology and Communication Law.

Tune in to listen to how Aurelia navigates through her career in the legal profession, what she believes needs to change in corporate as a whole and how she uses her voice to advocate for Black women in and out of the legal profession.

Tag us on Instagram: @sister_in_law_ @aurelianxumalo @bellz_motshwane

Visit our website: www.sisterinlaw.co.za

Purchase tickets to the next I am Lady Justice workshop which is a high impact workshop focusing on legal issues pertaining to marriage contracts, marriage, divorce, child maintenance, Wills and estate planning, and financial literacy. Tickets are R250 on www.quicket.co.za search “I am Lady Justice workshop” and choose your city (Pretoria, Joburg, Cape Town, Durban, Rustenburg)

Women often find themselves on the backfoot when it comes to family law issues pertaining to marriage contracts, divorce, child maintenance and Wills. And in the legal profession itself, women, particularly Black women are under represented. This podcast platform aims to level the playing field for women in and outside of the legal profession.