Lobese Report | June 2026

Luncheon with the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development

Introduction

I had the privilege of attending a luncheon hosted by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko T Kubayi following my participation in a national competition. What initially appeared to be a simple opportunity to submit a video entry unexpectedly developed into one of the most inspiring and transformative experiences of my young legal career. Receiving an invitation to attend the luncheon in Johannesburg was both an honour and a humbling reminder of the opportunities that can arise when one embraces challenges, regardless of how insignificant they may initially seem.

The Occasion

The luncheon, convened under the auspices of the Minister brought together a distinguished assembly of women who have shaped the trajectory of South Africa's legal landscape. The gathering was not merely a ceremonial occasion but a substantive forum for discourse on leadership, ethics, and the future of the legal profession.

Among the speakers were the Minister herself , the Public Protector Adv. Kholeka Gcaleka the first Black Senior Counsel Adv Kgomotso Moroka and a highly respected senior advocate Adv Mojankunyana Gumbi. Their collective wisdom, experience, and commitment to justice offered invaluable insights into leadership, constitutionalism, ethical practice, and the advancement of women within the legal profession.

Key Addresses and Themes

Advocate Kgomotso Moroka: Leadership and Legacy

She delivered an address centred on the obligations of leadership within the legal profession. She spoke compellingly of the duty incumbent upon those who have attained positions of influence to create pathways for those who follow. Her remarks underscored a vision of leadership as stewardship not the accumulation of personal accolades, but the deliberate cultivation of opportunity for the next generation of legal practitioners.

Adv. Kholeka Gcaleka : Ethics and Purposeful Leadership

The Public Protector's contribution focused on the foundational importance of ethics in public life and legal practice. She articulated a conception of leadership that is not merely procedural but purposive, grounded in care for the institutions we serve and the communities affected by our work. Her remarks served as a reminder that professional excellence, divorced from ethical commitment, is insufficient.

Advocate Mojakunyana Gumbi: The Constitutional Project

She offered a reflection on the significance of South Africa's Constitution and the milestones it has enabled. She traced the ways in which our constitutional framework has served as an instrument of transformation, affording rights and protections that previous generations could not have anticipated. Her address was a call to appreciate and defend the constitutional gains that underpin our democracy.

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi: Education and Resilience

The Minister's remarks centred on the transformative power of education and the necessity of resilience in women's leadership. She spoke to the particular challenges faced by women in the legal profession and emphasised that education remains the most reliable vehicle for advancement and empowerment.

Personal Reflections

This luncheon offered far more than professional networking or ceremonial recognition. It provided tangible evidence that the highest echelons of the legal profession are not merely aspirational but attainable. To witness women who have achieved distinction in advocacy, judicial oversight, and constitutional development and to hear them speak candidly of their journeys was to receive confirmation that the barriers which once seemed insurmountable are yielding.

As a Black female legal practitioner, I departed the event with a renewed conviction, the sky is the limit. The path has been forged by those who came before, and the responsibility now falls to my generation to walk it with integrity, purpose, and an eye toward those who will follow.

Attending the Minister of Justice's luncheon was a privilege that will remain a defining moment in my professional development. The wisdom shared by the speakers, coupled with the opportunity to engage with accomplished women leaders, provided lessons that extend far beyond the event itself. I left inspired not only to pursue excellence in my own legal career but also to contribute to the advancement of others, uphold the highest ethical standards, and serve with purpose.