Advocate Thuli Madonsela is an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa and a lifelong activist on social justice, constitutionalism, human rights, good governance and the rule of law. Named one of TIME100 influential people, in 2014 and Forbes Africa Person of the Year 2016, Thuli Madonsela is one of the drafters of South Africa’s Constitution and co-architect of several laws that have sought to illuminate South Africa’s democracy.
Thuli Madonsela was South Africa’s Public Protector for 7 years and Co-architect and Founding Chairperson of the African Ombudsman Research Centre. She has a global reputation for integrity and fearlessness in enforcing accountability and justice in the exercise of public power and use of public resources.
She has a history of highlighting the importance of social justice and general inclusive enjoyment of the fruits of democracy in the pursuit of peace.
In 2017 she was a resident at Harvard University as an Advanced Leadership Fellow. Among her many accolades, a select few are mentioned as – Professor Madonsela currently holds the chair of Social Justice at Stellenbosch University. She is also a Paul Harris Fellow, a Tallberg Global Leader, and is the recipient of Transparency International’s Integrity Award, the German Africa Prize and the Commonwealth Lawyers Truth and Justice Award.
Awards:
- 2016 – FW de Klerk Goodwill Award
- 2016 - Forbes African Person of the year 2016 - German Africa Prize
- 2015 – Doctor of Law (honoris causa), University of Fort Hare
- 2014 – Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in the Leaders category and described her as "an inspirational example of what African public officers need to be".
- 2014 – Glamour Women of the Year awards – named Woman of Courage
- 2014 – ANN7 South African of the Year
- 2014 – Transparency International Integrity Award
- 2013 – Stellenbosch University (March), Rhodes University (April) and University of Cape Town (June)
- 2011 – Daily Maverick named her South African Person of the Year for "serving her role as an ombudsman to the exercise of executive power with unwavering commitment to truth"
