Personal
Born: 17 August 1968, Montshioa
Wife: Happy Masondo
Children: A son
Education
Matriculation (1986): Kebalepile High School, Montshioa
Post-Matric (1988): Milton Academy
Bachelor of Science (BS) in Immunology & Microbiology (1992): Stanford University
Master of Science (MSc) in Physiology (1995): The Queen’s College, University of Oxford
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (1998): University of Cape Town
Professional history
Candidate Attorney: Edward Nathan & Friedland Inc. (1999)
Candidate Attorney: Bowman Gilfillan Inc. (2000)
Admitted as an attorney (22 May 2001)
Associate, White & Case LLP (2001- 2002)
Senior Legal Advisor, Nedbank Limited (January 2003 – June 2003)
Pupil, Johannesburg Society of Advocates (June 2023 – December 2003)
Admitted as an Advocate of the High Court (23 September 2003)
Member, The Johannesburg Society of Advocates (8 December 2003 to 31December 2023)
Acting Judge in the Labour Court (2014, and several sessions thereafter)
Acting Judge in the High Court (Gauteng Local Division) (Term 3, 2022; 24 – 31 March 2023)
Acting Judge in the High Court (Gauteng Provincial Division) (Term 3,2023)
Judge in the High Court (Gauteng Division, Pretoria) (1 January 2024 to date)
Acting Judge in the Labour Appeal Court (Term 4, 2024; Term 1, 2025)
Acting Judge:Supreme Court of Appeal: 1 April - 31 May 2026
Awards, Honours, and Other Activities
Semi-finalist, “Moving Up Quiz” (1986)
Awarded a scholarship for studies at Milton Academy, Milton, Massachusetts (1987)
Awarded a University Scholarship for studies at Stanford University (1988)
Junior Research Assistant at the Centre for AIDS Research (Stanford University) (1989 – 1992)
Vice-President, Stanford University Africa Society (1989- 1990)
Elected a Fellow of the Haas Centre for Public Service, Stanford University (1990)
Volunteer, Stanford AIDS Volunteer Educators Project, Stanford University (1990 – 1992)
Awarded the Ford Foundation Undergraduate Research Award (1991)
Tutor, English-in-Action Program, Stanford University (1991 – 1992)
Awarded the Rhodes Scholarship for studies at Oxford University (1992)
Vice-President, Oxford University Africa Society (1994)
Awarded the University Council Bursary, University of Cape Town, for LL.B. studies (1996)
Researcher at the Legal Resources Centre, Cape Town (1996)
Tutor in Cell Biology in the Departments of Zoology and Botany at the University of Cape Town (1996 – 1998)
Awarded the Orlin Foundation Bursary for LL.B. studies (1997)
Student Advisor at the Legal Aid Clinic, University of Cape Town (1997)
Research Assistant, Constitutional Litigation Unit of the Legal Resources Centre, Johannesburg (1997)
Founding Member, “Perspective”, a student publication in the Law School, University of Cape Town (1997)
Awarded the Sonneberg Hoffmann & Galombik Inc. Prize (1998)
Secretary, the Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee for Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (1999 to date)
Elected as an Aspen Institute Scholar (2002)
Recognised as a Nedcor Corporate Achiever (2003)
Member of the Water Tribunal (2007 – 2010)
Advocacy trainer for pupils, Johannesburg Society of Advocates (2010 to date)
Member of the University Council, Durban University of Technology (2011)
Trustee, Kyalami Estates Homeowners Association (2012, 2016)
Trustee, Tribeca Body Corporate
Recommended by the Johannesburg Bar for senior counsel status (May 2015)
Awarded Letters Patent (Silk) (2018)
Member of the Global Advisory Board, Knight-Hennessy Scholars, Stanford University (2019 to date)
Publications:
“DNA-Typing as a Forensic Tool: Applications and Implications for Civil Liberties” (1997). Published in the South African Journal on Human Rights, Vol 13 Part 4.
“Why Investigations into Violations of Socio-Economic Rights are a Proper area of Enquiry by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission” (1998). Published in Responsa Meridiana.
“The Place of Biotechnology in the European Community (1999). Published in the South African Journal of International Law, Vol 24
“Water Rights”, a chapter published in ‘Resource Manual: Socio-Economic Rights in South Africa’ (2000) (Eds. S. Liebenberg and K. Pillay). Published by the Socio-Economic Rights Project, Community Law Centre, University of the Western Cape.
“Yahoo! In Cyberspace: A World without Frontiers and the 21st Century’s Equivalent of the Wild West? (January-February 2002). Published in ‘De Rebus’
