Law, Service, and SABWiL; A Journey That Is Worth It!

“All of us… serve at the mercy of the people of South Africa and serve for the benefit of the people of South Africa. South Africans must hold accountable anyone who does anything unacceptable.” These are the words of the Honourable Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.

I grew up in Middelburg, Mpumalanga in an industrial community where everybody knew each other and the main career focus was engineering. As a young boy dreaming about the opportunities that life had to offer, I knew that my life could never be average. In the dusty streets of the township, I knew that Mr. Mandela and Zola 7 were extraordinary beings. However, you must understand that engineering was the only career path conveyed to me. It didn’t matter what kind of engineering, just as long as there was the word ‘engineer’ in the name. As a result, we were strongly encouraged to take mathematics and physical science and use those marks (as a second option) in case those of us who didn’t want engineering to still have engineering as a career to fall back on. One can just imagine how hard it had to be when nobody else saw the different path of life that one wanted to take. Law was introduced to me in 2014 when I volunteered at a law firm for the whole year and become good at the work that I did. I instantly fell in love.

Fast forward to 2017 when I was doing my third year in LLB, I had the opportunity of being part of the SABWiL shadowing program where I shadowed Adv. Naseema Adams at the South Gauteng Local Division of the High Court. I was truly motivated, as a student, when we got to the Roll Court where all Advocates waited for Honourable Deputy Judge President P Mojapelo to allocate courts to the Advocates. I realised that I had now been repositioned into my destiny. For the first time, I saw how intense and professional the legal [profession] was. I further witnessed a junior advocate who almost got struck off the Roll of Advocates because he took two trials in one day and was told to report himself to the Bar Council so that an investigation can be held. That’s where I saw the different roles played by Attorneys and Advocates and the rules that apply thereto.
I must confess that I was skeptical on whether SABWiL actually catered for males. However, as a SABWiL Alumni, I am proud to be part of a movement that is ready to be recorded in the books of history.

I remember our first sitting at BBM Attorneys when the Alumni officially met outside the comfort of WhatsApp. Of course, as an active UNISA student, one is bound to know a few of your fellow comrades that were part of student structures. However, on that day, everything became different. Now we were realising that all the sweat and dedication to improving the lives of students had become a norm that embodied itself into our journeys as young legal practitioners. Now we realised that the networks we had built were working in our favour. At that point, we realised that we were part of something greater that will give direction to our vision and goals. As a SABWiL Alumni, I must appreciate that opportunity given to us by Adv Tiry in making sure that we never fail to improve and sustain the legal [profession]. From 2017 when I was an innocent, dedicated and determined student to 2019 when I registered my Articles of Clerkship, the journey has been worth it. Not because of one’s own strength, abilities, capabilities and/or open-mindedness, but because of the people, one meets with along the way.

We often underestimate the power we have as young people. However, if we truly wanted to make a massive difference as SABWiL Alumni, then a simple conversation would move mountains. Change comes only to those that pursue it. Success is inevitable. Freedom has been bestowed upon us. Let us then make the best of it.

IGAMA LAMA KOSIKAZI MALIBONGWE!!!
23/06/2019
SIBUSISO NHLAPO
LLB (University of South Africa)