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As a girl growing up in Makeneng village in QwaQwa, Thabile Ngubeni had stars in her eyes and dreamt of becoming an astronomer one day. She later realised that although her childhood dream changed, the sky would never be the limit. Today, Ngubeni is a successful young attorney at Moroka Attorneys in Bloemfontein. At seven, just before the country’s first democratic election, Ngubeni relocated with her family to Harrismith. After starting high school, she decided that she would one day become a lawyer and be a voice of the people. After Ngubeni matriculated, she attended the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg where she obtained an LLB degree. Initially, this driven woman thought that being a lawyer only meant being an excellent orator. It was only during her final year at university, while studying Constitutional Law and Practical Legal Studies that it donned on her that law was not for the faint-hearted. Ngubeni now assists government with delivering services to the people and is still a thundering voice for those who are unable to speak out.
The Weekly met with her to find out more. What do you like most about your job?
I love my job because it puts me in a place whereby I can be a voice for the voiceless. I always go the extra mile in my work because I believe that people come first. The fact that I never stop growing and learning keeps me very humble. What is the biggest challenge you face with the kind of work you do?
Separating myself from the case. I often get personally involved and affected by the cases I work on. I become the case and forget that I am human. The other challenge is that you will not always win every case and you must never blame yourself as an attorney when that happens. What is your most memorable achievement?
The day I won my first case was a great achievement because I proved to myself that I am capable and can do anything I put my mind to. That in itself was a big achievement because it helped me achieve all that I have in life today. What is the most memorable case you have won?
I was contracted by a municipality to assist them with a civil claim against them to the tune of R100-million. I successfully defended them. It felt good to save taxpayer’ funds and to know that the funds will be utilised to uplift the community that municipality serves. Do you think Free State and the country has enough female attorneys?
There are enough qualified female attorneys and advocates. However, the opportunities available still do not favour us. The legal field is tough, male, and white and is made even harder to penetrate by the fact that there are not sufficient lucrative instructions from the government.
Being young, black, and talented does not guarantee success. The opportunities need to be spread evenly so as to allow us all to benefit from our democracy. What is your view on the empowerment of black lawyers in South Africa?
Empowerment is cardinal to the success of the black lawyer. It is the only thing that can bring about equality in the legal fraternity, even when it means there has to be inequality in order to bring about equality.
Policies are in place to ensure the above. However, implementation remains a problem. There is very little compliance with empowerment legislation and that is where the bulk of the problem lies. On the bright side, President Zuma and Minister Jeff Radebe have publicly undertaken to ensure that the entire legal fraternity benefits accordingly and previously disadvantaged lawyers receive the necessary support from the state. Where do you want to see yourself in the next ten years?
I would like to see myself as a judge because I am very passionate about law. I would also like to see myself taking part in programmes that help uplift the community and help people to find justice. Who inspires you and why?
I am inspired by different things in different people. I take the good in people and apply it in my life. My life is a gift from God. He believes in me, season in and season out. He is the epitome of integrity, faith, loyalty, love, and humility. It saddens me that at times people do not want say out loud that God inspires them. My mother is also one of my role models, simply because she is self-driven and she always motivates other people to reach their potential. What advice do you have for young black women who want to become lawyers?
Young people must always remember that they are the future and they must always strive to excel in the gift that God has given them. Never try to be like someone else, always be patient, and remember that life is a journey. |
