Capacity: Regional Court President
First Appointed as a Magistrate: October 2013 (KwaZulu-Natal Regional Division)
Further Appointments: 2022 – Regional Court President (Western Cape Regional Division)
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: African
Date of Birth: August 1975
Qualifications: BProc (1996)(University of Transkei) LLB (2010) LLM (2018)(UKZN)
Key Judgments:
- Fuel Trailers (Pty) Ltd t/a Trailers and Tankers v St Logistics (Pty) Ltd t/a Jikelele Tankers and Trailers (D9292/2021) [2023] ZAKZDHC 40 (14 June 2023)
- Khoza and Others v National Executive Committee, African National Congress Women’s League and Others (D9489/2023) [2024] ZAKZDHC 5 (6 February 2024)
- eThekwini Municipality v Msizi Security CC and Others (D5291/2022) [2024] ZAKZPHC 41 (10 June 2024)
Candidate bio:
Ms Nomfundo Sipunzi has dedicated her legal career to ensuring justice is served in both criminal and civil matters. She began her professional journey in 1997 as a prosecutor within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), handling various criminal cases on behalf of the state. Through hard work and excellence in her role, she advanced within the NPA, eventually becoming a Senior State Advocate, where she dealt with numerous high-profile cases, contributing significantly to the fight against crime in South Africa.
Her judicial career began in 2011 as an acting Magistrate, a position that gave her first-hand experience in court operations and the challenges facing the South African legal system. Ms Nomfundo Sipunzi’s particular interest in sexual offences courts and the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act allowed her to impact key areas of law reform, especially in rural communities along the KZN North Coast.
As Regional Court President, Ms. Sipunzi has led with a keen focus on reducing the backlog in South Africa’s often overwhelmed court system. She played a pivotal leadership role in the implementation of case flow management principles and guidelines across both civil and criminal courts, an initiative that significantly improved court efficiency. Her leadership contributed to a notable drop in heavy court rolls and delays, particularly in the courts where she has served.
With the expansion of civil jurisdiction in the Regional Courts, Ms. Sipunzi’s legal acumen extended into newer areas of law. She has continuously sought to improve the effectiveness of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act in the rural communities, recognizing the importance of both traditional and statutory law in resolving complex legal issues.
Her career reflects a deep commitment to addressing systemic legal challenges, promoting gender justice, and advancing the rights of vulnerable communities within the justice system. Her vast legal background stands her in good stead to be a frontrunner for the vacancies at the KwaZulu-Natal High Court.
