Prof. Nomthandazo Ntlama-Makhanya – Public Law – Fort Hare University

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, in our series on women in law, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Prof. Nomthandazo Ntlama-Makhanya who is a Professor of Public Law in the Department of Public Law at the Nelson R Mandela School of Law, Faculty of Law, at the University of Fort Hare. Some of her roles include acting as Head of UNESCO Oliver Tambo Chair of Human Rights, serving as the former Commissioner of the South African Judicial Services Commission (JSC) representing the Society of Law Teachers of Southern Africa, acting as a Judge of the High Courts and was appointed as a Non-Judge Member of the South African Electoral Court. Her core area of research is on Constitutional Law with a broader focus on human rights and customary law specifically on socio-economic rights, judiciary, gender equality and women’s rights. Our discussion includes: women in leadership, concerted succession planning efforts, transforming gender perspectives, developing practical gender policy frameworks, human rights education that entwines both rights and responsibilities and attaining an academic education to open doors that exceed your expectations. Prof. Ntlama-Makhanya shares how she overcame some of the challenges in her life through focus and a never give up approach, like having a brain tumour and going on to attain her doctorate. She reminds us that your past does not define your future. Tune in for more….