Womanity - Women in Unity
Judge Sandiswa Mfenyana – North West Division of the High Court – In Service
This week on Womanity , Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Judge Sandiswa (Mickey) Mfenyana from the North West Division of the High Court . For Judge Sandiswa Mfenyana, the journey into law began unexpectedly at just 12 years old, when her father, an English teacher, took her to watch The Merchant of Venice. Fascinated by Portia’s ability to use the law to resolve a seemingly impossible situation, young Sandiswa concluded that lawyers must be “such smart people”. What began as childhood fascination became a lifelong calling. A Career Defined by Service Judge Mfenyana’s legal career has crossed remarkably diverse terrain, from Legal Aid South Africa and the South African Human Rights Commission, through the intelligence environment and private practice, to the High Court bench . Yet she describes her career not as a carefully mapped trajectory, but as a series of doors that opened; and opportunities for which she was prepared. The common thread has been service, particularly to vulnerable people. Her early experience at Legal Aid taught her a fundamental lesson that continues to shape her: law is not about the lawyer; it is about the people being served, and lawyers are people’s channels to access the law. The greatest reward was seeing a client leave happy, knowing that she had helped someone navigate a system they could not navigate alone. Building a Law Firm from the Ground Up In 2009, Judge Mfenyana took a leap of faith and established her own practice with commercial, administrative, aviation and energy law expertise. Entrepreneurship brought a different set of challenges. As a Black woman building a business in a traditionally male- and white-male-dominated profession, she knew she had to demonstrate not only that she was qualified, but that she could perform at the same level as, or better than, her male counterparts. She built her practice organically, starting small, relying on faith, discipline and a clear definition of success. For her, success was never about building the biggest firm. It was about making an impact on the lives of her clients, and earning their trust and loyalty. Her emphasis on personal service and quality meant that she retained the clients she acquired. Being a Black Woman in a Traditionally Male-Dominated Profession We explore the gender and racial assumptions Judge Mfenyana encountered throughout her career. She recalls moments when colleagues questioned her capabilities or made assumptions about her education and background based simply on her being a Black woman. Her response was not to shrink herself. Instead, she developed the confidence and assertiveness necessary to operate in a demanding profession. She reflects on the additional expectations placed on Black women lawyers and challenges the historically entrenched idea that weakness or imperfection should be associated with women. Rejection Is Not the Same as Failure Perhaps one of the most important lessons from the conversation is Judge Mfenyana’s story of reaching the judiciary . Her path to the bench included two unsuccessful Judicial Service Commission interviews before her eventual appointment in 2023. Rather than seeing those experiences as rejection, she viewed them as opportunities to learn and grow. She describes her first interview as an excellent experience and believes the lessons from both interviews contributed to her eventual success. For her, the issue was not failure but timing: sometimes, “it was not my time.” “Empowered Women Empower Other Women” For Judge Mfenyana, empowerment is not simply about personal achievement. An empowered woman is one who “pours onto others without fearing that they’re going to run empty.” She speaks passionately about mentorship, knowledge-sharing and giving time to the next generation. She challenges successful women to move beyond being busy and make space to support others, even if it is only five minutes with a young woman seeking guidance about her career. Her message is clear: empowerment becomes meaningful when it is multiplied. The Village That Taught Her to Serve Some of Judge Mfenyana’s most formative lessons were learned long before she entered the legal profession. Growing up in a village with parents who valued education and service, she witnessed her father helping children from disadvantaged families pursue their education and her family assisting people in the community. These experiences shaped her belief that education should never separate you from others. Instead, education creates a responsibility to serve. That principle of service has remained embedded in her professional life. A Message to Women and Girls: Find Someone Who Believes in You Judge Mfenyana’s closing message for women and girls: look beyond your circumstances and find people who believe in you. She rejects the idea of the “self-made” person, emphasising that every individual is shaped by people who have invested in them. Her advice is to look beyond the boundaries of your immediate surroundings, seek out mentors and actively find people who can help you see possibilities beyond what you currently know. Sometimes, she says, if the people around you do not believe in you, go and find them. Special thanks to Lusanda Ntuli the Deputy Director: Communications at the Office of the Chief Justice who makes our annual series showcasing female judges possible. Happy Women’s Month.
