Personal

Born on 10 July 1967, Kimberley

Married

Children and grandchildren

Education

Matric: Hoërskool Suid-Natal, Port Shepstone (1985

B. luris: University of the Free State (1988)

LL. B (Postgraduate) (cum laude): University of the Free State (2001)

Professional Career

Academic Assistant: Faculty of Law, University of the Free State (1988 - 1989)

Law Reporter: Volksblad Newspaper (1989 - 1990)

First female Legal Officer in the Free State: South African National Defence Force (1992 - 1994)

Ad hoc Assessor in criminal cases: Free State Division of the High Court (1995 - 2000)

Part-time Lecturer: Faculty of Law, University of the Free State (2002)

Practising Advocate: Free State Society of Advocates (2002 - 2015)

Acting Judge: Free State Division of the High Court (various appointments from October 2013 - 2015)

Appointed as Judge of the Free State Division of the High Court: 1 January 2016

Acting Deputy Judge President: Free State Division of the High Court (19 July 2021 - 17 September 2021; 11 April 2022 - 17 June 2022; 18 July 2022 - 16 September 2022; 2 October 2023 - 30 November 2023; 14 April 2025 - 20 June 2025; 6 October 2025 - 30 November 2025)

Appointed Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal: 01 June - 30 September 2026

Other activities                                                                        

Committee Member: Juridical Society of the University of the Free State (1987 - 1988)

Honorary Secretary: Council of the Free State Society of Advocates (2012)

Council Member (Ministerial Appointment): University of the Free State (2018 - 2022)

Member of the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (SAC-IAWJ): (2016 to date)

SAC-IAWJ Provincial Coordinator Free State Province: (2018 - 2021)

Personal

MPHAHLELE, SEGOPOTJE SHEILA

24 August 1968, Mamelodi, Pretoria

Education

Matric: Tsako Thabo High School, Mamelodi, Pretoria

B Proc: University of Limpopo

Bachelor of Laws: University of Limpopo

Certificate in Pension Funds Law: University of South Africa

Diploma in Insolvency Law and Practice: University of Johannesburg

Professional History

Claims Handler at the Road Accident Fund (1994 - 1995)

Candidate Attorney: Routledges Inc. (1996)

Candidate Attorney: Lephoko & Ledwaba Attorneys (1997 -1998)

Admitted as an Attorney (1998)

Professional Assistant: Lephoko Inc. (1998 – 1999)

Practising Attorney: Mphahlele Attorneys (September 1999 - 2013) Member of Merithing Trust CC, an Insolvency Practice (2000 – 2013)

Former Panel Member of the Companies Tribunal

Former Panel Member of the Appeal Tribunal of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa

Former Presiding Officer for COIDA Services

Acting Judge: Gauteng Division of the High Court (2011, 2012, 2013)

Judge of the High Court: Gauteng Division (02 December 2013)

Acting Judge President: Mpumalanga Division of the High Court

Acting Deputy Judge President: Mpumalanga Division of the High Court (2019, 2020, 2021)

Deputy Judge President of the High Court: Mpumalanga Division (01 July 2021)

Judge President of the High Court: Mpumalanga Division (22 August 2023 to date)

Acting Judge, Supreme Court of Appeal: 01 June 2026 - 30 September 2026

Award, Honours and Other Activities

Recipient of the Limpopo University Merit Award: Outstanding Achievement in Dissertation 500

Former Board Member of the Mamelodi Society for the Care of the Aged

Former Member of the Licensing Committee of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority

Former Member of the Magistrates Commission

Chairperson of the Gauteng Law Council (2005/2006)

Former Deputy President of the Law Society of the Northern Provinces

Former Council Member of the Law Society of South Africa

Former Member of the Attorneys Development Fund

Former Senior Examiner for the Attorneys' Admission Examinations

Former Chairperson of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL Pretoria Branch)

Member of the Association for the Advancement of Black Insolvency Practitioners (1999 – 2013)

Member of the South African Women Lawyers’ Association (2006 – 2013)

Member of the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (SAC-IAWJ)

Recipient of the International Association of Women Judges, South African Chapter’s Recognition Award (Pioneer Women in Leadership) (August 2023)

Deputy President for the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (SAC-IAWJ) (2023/2025)

President for the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (SAC-IAWJ) (2025/2027)

Member of the SAC-IAWJ Mentorship Program

Trainer: General Council of the Bar of South Africa, Northern Regions Pupillage Programme

Trainer: Judicial Skills Training for Aspirant Judges, facilitated by SAJEI

Former Member of the Library Committee of the Gauteng Local Division of the High Court

Member of the National Court Infrastructure Committee (March 2023 to date)

Member of the Judiciary Conference Organising Committee (August 2023 to date) Member of the Judicial Oversight Committee (November 2024 to date) Member of Judicial Accountability Committee (February 2025 to date)

Member of the Advisory Committee on the Implementation of the Sexual Harassment Policy (October 2025 to date)