Judge Margie Victor qualified as a social worker then attorney and was then called to the Johannesburg Bar to practice as an advocate. In 2008, after spending 25 years as an advocate at the Johannesburg Bar, she was elevated to the Johannesburg High Court of South Africa Gauteng Local Division based in Johannesburg as a judge. She is a judge of the Competition Appeal Court. In 2016 she served an acting justice of the Supreme Court of Appeal. In 2019 she was appointed an Acting Justice of the Constitutional Court until 2021.
Her contributions outside of judicial work include being vice president of the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women judges. She is also involved in the WOZA Women’s Academy of Learning Project - “Women Judges making a difference.” She has done extensive work on mentoring of aspirant judges. She has mentored women legal practitioners to strengthen their skills. She has mentored final year law students from the USA as judges’ clerks as well as many South African law students. She has addressed attorneys of the Law Society of the Northern Provinces on a number of topics including aspirant judges training. She has done skills training of lawyers at many winter workshops as run by the former Law Society of the Northern Provinces. She is also a patron to the Johannesburg Child Welfare Society. She has edited nine volumes of a Jungian poet found on www.chatilloncoque.com.
Her entire career has been focused on improving the lives of others. Her community work has included establishing a Montessori preprimary school for underprivileged children and during her 25-year career as an advocate she has assisted many abused women with legal advice. She undertook a massive environmental law case assisting a small community living in the shadows of an industrial mill. She was the first woman to be elected to the Johannesburg Bar Council and was involved in the call for gender and racial transformation in the leadership structures. She did extensive work in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s at the Johannesburg Bar doing public interest litigation such as treason trial work, defending young members of communities accused of public violence and related issues and civil work.
The Johannesburg Bar honoured her contribution to South African law as an advocate.
Personal details
Bernard Ngoepe grew up in a small rural village in the area around Pietersburg, spending his early days tending the family’s sheep and cattle in the fields.
Education
Ngoepe was awarded his first degree in 1973, a BIuris from the University of the North. He continued his studies, through Unisa, while serving his articles as a candidate attorney, and obtained an LLB degree in 1977.
Professional history
After completion of his articles and obtaining his LLB degree, Ngoepe practiced as an attorney for seven years. In 1983 he was admitted as an Advocate of what is now the High Court of South Africa. He practiced as such for twelve years becoming senior counsel in 1994. In 1995 was appointed a Judge of the Transvaal Provincial Division of the High Court of South Africa. Also in 1995, he served a term as an Acting Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and two terms, in 1998, as an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. In 1999 he was appointed Judge President of the Transvaal Provincial Division of the High Court of South Africa. In 2001 he was appointed Chancellor of the University of South Africa (Unisa).
Other activities
- Appointed member of the Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
- Chairperson of the Magistrate’s Commission.
- Member of the Judicial Service Commission.
- Appointed Honorary Captain of the South African Navy.
- Appointed Honorary Professor, University of Limpopo.
- Appointed Judge of the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Personal details
Born Qingana 11 January 1961, Eastern Cape Three children.
Education
B Proc (Wits University)
Advanced Diploma in Labour Law (RAU University)
Professional history
Tshiqi-Zebediela Inc- Managing Partner (1994 – 2005)
Black Lawyers Association - Litigation Officer (1992 – 1994)
Matlala Attorneys – Professional Assistant (1991 – 1992)
Neluheni Attorneys – Articles of Clerkship (1989 – 1991)
South African Council of Churches – Legal Co-ordinator (1986 – 1989)
Judicial positions
Judge – Supreme Court of Appeal (November 2009)
Acting Judge – Supreme Court of Appeal (April 2009 – November 2009)
Acting Judge – Competition Appeal Court (2007 – 2009)
Judge of the High Court of (South Gauteng High Court) (2005 – 2009)
Acting Judge of the High Court and the Labour Appeal Court (2003 – 2004)
Other fields of Specialisation
(1994 – 2005) Senior Commissioner - CCMA and Bargaining Councils; Medunsa – Long Distance Part-Time Lecturer in Labour Law - IMSSA, Tokiso – Mediator, Arbitrator, Trainer and Chairing Disciplinary Hearings