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:
- Khoza and Others v National Executive Committee, African National Congress Women’s League and Others (D9489/2023) [2024] ZAKZDHC 5 (6 February 2024)
- Southern Spirit Properties 227 (Pty) Ltd v Afro Joinery (Pty) Ltd and Another (10971/23P) [2024] ZAKZAPHC 41 (18 January 2024)
- Dlamini v S (A271/2022) [2024] ZAGPPHC 726 (31 July 2024)
- eThekwini Municipality v Msizi Security CC and Others (D5291/2022) [2024] ZAKZPHC 41 (10 June 2024)
- 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)
Candidate bio | Updated August 2025
Ms Nomfundo Sipunzi is the current Regional Court President of the Western Cape.
She 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 a range of 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 and contributed 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 of court operations and the challenges facing the South African legal system. During her time as a magistrate, Ms Sipunzi sat as the sole presiding officer in the Empangeni Regional Court for roughly a year, where she was responsible for all matters before the court, as well as the management of stakeholder forums. This challenging period allowed her to demonstrate her dedication to creating an efficient, effective, and considerate judiciary. Ms Sipunzi’s particular interest in sexual offences courts and the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act enabled her to make an impact in key areas of law reform, especially in rural communities along the KZN North Coast.
As Regional Court President, Ms Sipunzi has focused strongly on reducing the backlog in South Africa’s often overwhelmed court system. She played a pivotal leadership role in implementing 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 reduction in heavy court rolls and delays, particularly in the courts where she has served.
Ms Sipunzi has sat as an acting judge in the Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape Divisions of the High Court for several sessions between 2022 and 2025, with her most recent stint being in the Western Cape Division between April and June 2025.
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 implementation of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act in rural communities, recognising the importance of both traditional and statutory law in resolving complex legal issues.
In the Southern Spirit Properties case, which was an urgent application for the liquidation of the first respondent (Afro Joinery), Judge Sipunzi demonstrated her keen understanding of company law in engaging with section 345(1)(a) of the Companies Act 61 of 1973. The case also dealt with the admissibility of certain electronic communications marked “without prejudice” and whether such communications could be treated as an admission of debt by the first respondent. Judge Sipunzi found in favour of the applicant, admitting the emails and granting an order for the immediate liquidation of the first respondent. This case required her to balance the black letter of the law with broader normative and contextual considerations, demonstrating her ability to handle complex cases in a nuanced and fair manner.
Her nearly 30-year-long 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 extensive legal background stands her in good stead to be a frontrunner for the vacancies at the KwaZulu-Natal High Court.
October 2025 JSC Interview
The Judicial Service Commission interviewed candidates for five vacancies in the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court. Following deliberations, the Commission had resolved to recommend Ms Nomfundo Sipunzi for the position.
Ms Nomfundo Sipunzi’s interview was successful.