Professor Thulisile Madonsela is an advocate of the High Court of South Africa. Madonsela is the founder of the Thuma Foundation, an independent democracy leadership and literacy public benefit organisation, and the convener of the Social Justice M-Plan, a Marshall Plan-like initiative aimed at catalysing progress towards ending poverty and reducing inequality by 2030, in line with the National Development Plan (NDP) and Sustainable Development Goals (SGGs). She was also the Public Protector of South Africa from 2009 to 2016. A multiple award-winning legal professional, with over 50 national and global awards, Madonsela has eight honorary doctor of laws degrees. She is credited with transforming the institution by enhancing its effectiveness in promoting good governance and integrity through her reports, jurisprudence on the powers of the Public Protector and introduction of ADR. As a full-time commissioner of the South African Law Commission, she supervised several investigations on aligning all laws with the Constitution, and participated in the drafting of several laws. Named one of Time 100’s Most Influential People in the World in 2014, Forbes Africa Person of the Year in 2016 and one of BBC’s 100 Women, Madonsela was recently appointed as Knight of the Legion of Honour by French President Emmanuel Macron. Viewed as the highest decoration in France, the Knight of Legion was bestowed on Madonsela in recognition of her remarkable achievements in defence of the rule of law and the fight against corruption in South Africa. Her policy contributions have focused on the transformation of the judicial system, the promotion of equality – particularly gender equality – and the Victims Charter. She has also participated in the drafting of several international instruments, mainly on human rights, gender, race, disability, development and gender-based violence, in addition to participating in the preparation of country reports and representing the country.
Advocate, Law Trust Chair in Social Justice and Law Professor