Sisi Khampepe biography: profile, age, qualifications, organizations

Sisi Khampepe (born 8 January 1957 in Soweto) is a South African judge. She has been involved in various legal and community organizations.

Following an appointment in October 2009, she became a Judge to the Constitutional Court.

Profile

Name	Sisi Virginia Khampepe
Born	8 January 1957 (age 64 years) Soweto, Gauteng
Gender	Female
Education	B Proc, LLM
Alma mater	University of Zululand Harvard Law School
Nationality	South African
Marital status	Married
Children	2
Occupation	Judge, attorney

Background

She was born in Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa on 8 January 1957. The legal heavyweight is a mother to two children.

Qualifications

She holds a B Proc from the University of Zululand (Unizulu). Sisi graduated with an LLM degree from Harvard Law School, Massachusetts, the United States.

Career

In 1985, Virginia was admitted as an attorney and kicked off her profession in private practice at Bowman Gilfillan. She specialized in labor law.

After ten years, in 1995, Sisi was appointed a member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In 1999, Virginia became the Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions in the National Prosecuting Authority.

She became a legal advisor in the Industrial Aid Society and did vacation employment for a year (1979-1980). For two years, she was a fellow in the Legal Resources Centre (1981-1983).

In 1983, she became a Candidate Attorney at Bowman Gilfillan Attorneys. Sisi established her law firm after she was admitted as an attorney in 1985. She practiced under the name SV Khampepe Attorneys.

Her firm’s objectives, defending the right of workers against unjust laws and unfair employment practices, gained its popularity. The firm was among the few Black labor law firm in South Africa.

Former President Mandela appointed her to the position of TRC Commissioner in 1995. In 1996, Sisi was a member of the TRC’s Amnesty Committee.

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development employed her as Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions. She worked in this capacity for a year (1998-1999).

Sisi Khampepe was appointed as a Judge in the High Court (TPD) in 2000. During President Mbeki’s tenure, he appointed her to oversee the elections in Zimbabwe in 2004.

For five years (2005-2010), she served as the Vice-Chairperson of the National Council of Correctional Services. Sisi Khampepe was appointed as a Judge to the Constitutional Court in 2009.

Organizations

Legal organizations

Executive Committee Member of Lesego women’s club	1993-1999
Donor to the Sparrow Rainbow Village (AIDS Hospice)	2006
J G Strydom (Helen Joseph) Hospital Board of Governors	1994
Trustee of SACCAWU Investment Trust 1994: Employment Advisory Centre	1993
Selection Committee Member of Public Service Commission	1994
Trade Unions’ Fund Administrator of Federation International Des Employes	1990-1995
Vice Chairperson of the Mediation and Conciliation Centre	1993-1996
Vice Chairperson of Women’s Desk on Children and Woman Abuse	1988-1999
Legal Advisor of African Council of Hawkers and Informal Business	1988-1989
Selection Committee Member of South African Legal Education Programme	1983-1986
Facilitator of the Street Committee, Soweto	1978-1988
Legal Advisor of Sechaba Sizwe Agricultural Cooperative	1985-1986
Legal Advisor of National Black Consumer Union	1985-1986
Legal Advisor of the Orlando Pirates Football Club	1988
Association of Law Societies Community Organizations	1987
The Law Society of the TVL (Northern Province)	1985-2000
Member of the Black Lawyers Association	1985-present
International Law Society, Harvard Law School	1981-1983

Community organizations

Facilitator of the Street Committee, Soweto	1978 – 1988
Vice Chairperson of Women’s Desk on Children and Woman Abuse	1988 – 1999
Trade Unions’ Fund Administrator of Federation International Des Employes	1990 – 1995
Executive Committee Member of Lesego women’s club	1993 – 1999
Trustee of SACCAWU Investment Trust	1993
Employment Advisory Centre	1994
J G Strydom (Helen Joseph) Hospital Board of Governors	1994
Selection Committee Member of Public Service Commission	1994
Donor to the Sparrow Rainbow Village (AIDS Hospice	2006