Professor Thuli (Thulisile) Madonsela is the Director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in the Faculty of Law at Stellenbosch University and the Law Trust Research Chair Professor of Law in Social Justice Studies. She is the founder of the Thuma Foundation for Democracy Leadership and Literacy and a member of the African Academy of Sciences. Professor Madonsela was recently appointed to the UN Scientific Advisory Board and serves as Chairperson of Cities Alliance. She is also a member of the International Anticorruption Advisory Council and Global Justice Leaders.
As the former Public Protector of South Africa and a full-time Commissioner in the South African Law Reform Commission, Professor Madonsela was one of the 11 technical experts who helped draft the South African Constitution. She is a co-architect of several constitutionally mandated laws, including the Equality Act, Employment Equity Act, and Promotion of Administrative Justice Act. Her extensive background in applied constitutional, social justice, and administrative law is rooted in her years of public service and her investigations into improper conduct in state affairs.
A sought-after keynote speaker, Professor Madonsela has written, taught, presented papers, and published widely on constitutional law, social justice, ethical leadership, good governance, and gender mainstreaming. She has contributed to the drafting of several international human rights instruments at the UN, AU, and SADC levels, and has authored country reports on these topics. She currently teaches Constitutional Law, Social Justice Law, Administrative Law, and Constitutional Governance and Ethical Leadership.
Professor Madonsela holds eight honorary law doctorates, two law degrees, a Harvard Advanced Leadership Certificate, and other postgraduate qualifications. Named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2014, her global recognition includes over 70 awards, such as the Rotary’s Paul Harris Award, Commonwealth Lawyers Truth and Justice Award, and the global ACFE Cressy Award.
Beyond her professional achievements, Professor Madonsela is a mother of two, philanthropist, and avid mountaineer. She has summited Mt Kilimanjaro twice as part of the #Trek4Mandela-#Caring4Girls anti-period poverty campaign and the Musa Plan for Social Justice, and regularly hikes for the #Action4Inclusion campaign to end student debt.