The old adage that "heroes are born in adversity" aptly captures the exceptional life and distinguished career of Prof, now Judge, Nomthandazo Ntlama-Makhanya. It is never easy to summarise the achievements of a legend in the making within the confines of an op-ed; however, this article seeks to demonstrate that commitment, dedication, resilience and integrity remain the cornerstones of extraordinary success.

It is widely acknowledged that the University of South Africa, and particularly its College of Law, has produced some of the finest legal minds this country has ever known. As the largest university on the African continent, the institution continues to shape and inspire generations of leaders, scholars, jurists and public servants.

His Excellency, Cyril Ramaphosa, acting in terms of section 174(6) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, and on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, appointed Prof Nomthandazo Ntlama-Makhanya as Judge of the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court, Makhanda, with effect from 1 August 2026. This appointment stands as a testament not only to her academic excellence, but also to her unwavering commitment to justice and constitutionalism.

Judge Ntlama-Makhanya hails from Qaga Village in the Eastern Cape. She commenced her academic journey at the University of Fort Hare, where she obtained both her B Juris and LLB degrees. She thereafter pursued an LLM in Constitutional Law at Stellenbosch University.

Beyond academia, she also proudly donned the South African flag as a netball player, representing South Africa at international competitions, including the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. This achievement demonstrated, from an early age, the discipline, determination and excellence that would later define her illustrious academic and professional career.

Her academic achievements are nothing short of extraordinary. Judge Ntlama-Makhanya completed her Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree at the University of South Africa within only two years of commencing her doctoral studies, all while recovering from brain surgery. Such an accomplishment reflects not only intellectual brilliance, but remarkable resilience and perseverance. Shortly after obtaining her doctorate, she ascended to the rank of Associate Professor. In a remarkable trajectory, she rose from Junior Lecturer to Associate Professor within only seven years, distinguishing herself as one of the institution’s most accomplished academics.

Her dedication to public service and the advancement of justice became increasingly evident when she was appointed by the Law Teachers Association of Southern Africa in 2016 to serve as a Commissioner of the Judicial Service Commission in Durban. Thereafter, she served as an Acting Judge in various divisions of the High Court, including the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Gauteng Divisions. Her judgments, many of which are available on SAFLII, demonstrate her profound legal acumen, intellectual depth, and principled interpretation of the law.

Judge Ntlama-Makhanya’s elevation to the Bench is particularly significant because she is among the rare few legal academics to be appointed directly to the judiciary without first practising as an attorney or advocate. This is no small achievement and further distinguishes her as a jurist of exceptional calibre.

The College of Law joins the people of South Africa in congratulating Judge Nomthandazo Ntlama-Makhanya on her historic appointment. We wish her strength and wisdom as she embarks upon this important chapter of service to the nation. As a proud alumna of the University of South Africa, may she continue to inspire future generations of legal scholars, practitioners and leaders within the College of Law and beyond.

*Submitted by Ngwako Mokgotho, Communications and Marketing Specialist, College of Law on behalf of the Dean’s office