Our Mandate

Justice Bess Nkabinde, who retired in December 2017 as a Justice of the Constitutional Court, practised law as an Advocate until she acted and was later appointed as Judge of the High Court in 1999. She was, later, privileged to act as a Judge in the Labour Court, Labour Appeal Court and Supreme Court of Appeal before her appointment in the Constitutional in January 2006. In May 2016 to June 2017, Justice Nkabinde acted as Deputy Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa and was privileged to act as Chief Justice, in November 2016.

While a Justice of the Constitutional Court, Justice Nkabinde was appointed to chair a Judicial Conduct Tribunal, the first of its kind, in terms of the Judicial Service Commission Act, concerning allegations of misconduct against certain Judges of the Gauteng High Court. After her retirement she was designated and served as Member and/or Chairperson of the Judicial Conduct Committee and Judicial Conduct Appeals Committee, respectively.

In 2018 until 2020, she was appointed Acting Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Namibia, in Windhoek. She is currently, since 2022, a Judge of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of Botswana, in Gaborone.

Justice Nkabinde has held leadership roles across numerous Boards, Committees and other institutions, some of which she continues to hold, demonstrating her commitment to social justice and institutional integrity. Notable of these roles include her appointments as: Member of the Judicial Training Sub-Committee in the early 20s; Member of  the Co-ordinating Committee of the Justice System on Racism and Sexism within the Judiciary in 2004; Chairperson of the Rules Board for Courts of Law (2004-2013); Chairperson – Disciplinary Inquiry established pursuant to the remedial action directed by the Public Protector in her Report into allegations of Improper Conduct regarding Mr D Mogajane’s application for the position of Director-General at National Treasury and his subsequent appointment to the same position by National Treasury (2019); Chairperson  of the Independent Panel Established in terms of the Rules of the National Assembly on the Removal from Office (in terms of section 194 of the Constitution – of a Holder of Public Office in a State Institution Supporting Constitutional Democracy) of former Public Protector, Adv B Mkhwebane (November 2020 – February 2021); Chairperson of the Independent Ad Hoc Appeal Tribunal into the Ombud Report on Circumstances Surrounding the Care and Death of Mr S Lethole at Thembisa Tertiary Hospital (2022); and Member of Council – Rhodes University.

Additionally, Justice Nkabinde is a respected speaker and facilitator, having presented papers and led discussions on diverse legal and social topics both locally and internationally. Her passion for education is evident in her keynote contributions to institutions such as UNISA, North-West University, the International Women’s Peace Group, and the South African Judicial Education Institute. Through the collaborative programme initiated by the late former Chief Justice Pius Langa, she taught a course on the South African constitutional jurisprudence to post-graduate Law students at the Maryland Law School, Baltimore, USA.

Currently, the retired Justice serves as Director of School Aid South Africa, an NGO working in partnership with School Aid UK, the Department of Basic Education, Liberty, and Standard Bank to build and renovate libraries and provide books to underserved schools, promoting literacy among young learners. Additionally, she is a member of the Appointments Panel of the Press Council. She also serves on the Panel responsible for reviewing nominations to the South African Reserve Bank Board.