The world is run by WOMEN. Strong, brave, courageous, witty, kick-ass women. The City of Roses boasts some of the toughest, most compassionate and most inspiring female leaders you’ll ever come across. This month, Get It celebrates these leaders and their superpowers. Because, let’s face it, we’re not just businesswomen. We are mothers, daughters, caretakers, wives, cooks, cleaners, teachers and motivators. We are invested in our communities, and care for those who need a mother’s love. We look at the future while tending to the present with grace and attention to detail. We do it all, with added vava-VOOM for those extra curve balls life throws at us.
In this year’s Get It Women on the Move feature, Vodacom is at the forefront, celebrating this team of strong women with us. Visit www.vodacom.co.za for details on all it has on offer.
Meet Chancellor Justice Mahube Molemela
Justice Mahube Molemela has an extremely long list of achievements and credentials, but she takes pride in having her roots are deeply buried in her community in Bloemfontein.
She matriculated in Thaba ‘Nchu in 1981, and today she is the chancellor of the central university of technology (cut). She made history by becoming the first female Chancellor of the CUT in 2016. Furthermore, she also smashed glass ceilings when she was the first
female Judge President of the Free State Division of the High Court of South Africa.
Her current work as a Judge of Appeal means that her responsibilities are to consider appeals against judgments of the High Court as part of a panel of Judges, and to write judgments. The enormity of her work and the widespread impact thereof often hits home with Justice Mahube, and she is constantly reminded of why she adores her career. “The judiciary is often referred to as the last bastion of democracy, and rightly so. Without independent judges, there would be no democracy to talk about and this is the case worldwide.
“This critical role in the sustenance of democracy makes this demanding position (being a judge) one of the best jobs in the world, in my view.” She believes that her deeply-seated passion for the achievement of justice is her main driving force.
Justice Mahube has always had a hunger to know more, which was instilled in her by her parents. “My parents taught me that education is the key to success. I try to live my life by it.”
She completed numerous degrees in her years of study, starting in 1982 at the university of Fort Hare, and completing an LLB at the university of the Free State. In 1996, she attended a course in Human Rights in Denmark, offered by the Danish Centre for Human Rights.
In 2000, she attained a post graduate Diploma in Business Management from Buckinghamshire university. Her legal career commenced in 1987 with her appointment as prosecutor at the Thaba ’Nchu Magistrate’s Court. She was admitted as attorney in 1993, and as conveyancer and notary in 1996. Fast forward many years and achievements later, in addition to practicing as attorney, notary and conveyancer, she served as commissioner at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
She was also a part-time lecturer at the UFS for a period of two years, and served on a number of boards, including that of chairperson of Centlec and a provincial board-member of ABSA Bank.
Her list of degrees and achievements is extremely long, but this does not stop her from achieving even more dreams for herself, and the legal justice system in SA. Since her
appointment at the CUT, Justice Mahube and the vice-chancellor and principal had several engagements with the chancellors of the UFS and Sol Plaatje universities, with the intention
to strengthen collaboration between the three universities. Furthermore, her involvement in
empowering farm workers and upcoming farmers through The Free State Rural Development Association is one of initiatives that bears testament to her good record of personal support to worthy causes in society.
When she steps outside her office and the courtroom, Justice Mahube fills numerous other important roles in her life, including that of mother, wife, sister, mentor, member of a
women’s group and a board member of a non-profit organisation. She and her husband, Sello Molemela, have two sons, Moeketsi and Moeletsi. Her hobbies include travelling, jogging, hiking, movies, theatre and listening to jazz music. She also loves reading, and is
currently engaged in the motivational autobiography penned by her predecessor, retired
Justice Thekiso Musi. The title is A Dream Believed, a Dream Achieved.
www.cut.ac.za
