Each woman’s story is a building block for resilience and growth

From fighting apartheid to taking law outside of the courtrooms to make it more accessible, Judge Mohini Moodley’s career is a masterclass in using law as a tool for community empowerment. Judge Moodley, who retired in July 2023 as judge of the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court, speaks on the challenge of looking beyond tokenism and ‘pioneer’ status to focus on true equity

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JUDGE Mohini Moodley’s journey in law begins in apartheid South Africa. Hailing from a politically-conscious community, she was drawn to law early on, engaging with anti-apartheid organisations and leaders. Rather than leave South Africa (like many activists were forced to), she made the deliberate choice to remain and use the legal system to fight apartheid.

Initially pursuing an English Honours degree and working as an academic, she later transitioned to law due to disillusionment with her faculty.

In the midst of law studies and raising her children, she forged a path that led her to become an attorney and later the director of the Practical Legal Training School. It was work outside of the courtroom that defined her career.

She decided to focus on community legal education, which included providing free legal advice, advocating for women’s rights, and working to implement the Domestic Violence Act through workshops effectively.

In these spaces where education was limited, she saw the impact of making the law accessible. Her decades of community service culminated in 2008 with her appointment to the high court, becoming the first female attorney to sit on the KwaZulu-Natal Bench.

This historic breakthrough was made possible through intentional mentorship. She acknowledges Judge Shyam Gyanda, who invited her to serve as an assessor and acted as an “informal mentor”, paving the way for her permanent appointment.

Her rise serves as a powerful reminder of how allies in power can intentionally dismantle barriers for others.