On 10 April, PDBY spoke to the newly appointed member of the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC), Dr Keneilwe Radebe. Dr Radebe is a lecturer for the Law Faculty at the University of Pretoria, with 13 years of experience to her name. She specialises in constitutional law and media law because she is passionate about people. She said, “I [give lectures on the Bill of Rights, which comes quite naturally to me.” She enjoys media law, as it can involve a lot of activism.
The SALRC is an independent body that conducts legal research on behalf of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. “Should there be an issue with regards to the law (for example, customary law), the commission may be requested to conduct [the relevant] research with the intention to best address it,” explained Dr Radebe. These requests are not limited to the minister of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, as any other relevant stakeholder can make such requests too.
The legal research conducted under the SALRC is strictly independent, and there are different committees within the organisation, such as the working and advisory committees. In her new role as a commissioner, Dr Radebe will authorise the research being conducted. She may not be directly involved in the research side of the process, but she will provide people with the applicable guidance.
With this role added to her long list of responsibilities, Dr Radebe prioritises time management to ensure that she maintains discipline. When asked to provide two tips related to time management, she mentioned passion and patience: be patient with yourself and be passionate about doing tasks. “If you love something, you will make time for it,” she said. Appreciating where you are in your life makes you want to work smarter and harder to maintain it.
With her new role, Dr Radebe looks forward to being remembered as a commissioner who is passionate about the law and making it accessible to all. She advises students who aspire to be part of commissions like these that have a positive impact on the country to start small. Wherever you find yourself, try to do more than is expected of you, and expose yourself to the relevant opportunities in your areas of interest. She encourages students to capitalise on where they find themselves and to contribute wholeheartedly even with small tasks.
Dr Radebe said that before she was appointed as a commissioner, a thorough background check was conducted on her. For this reason, she warns students to be conscious of how they conduct themselves at all times. It is important to be respectful, especially on social media platforms, as this could work for or against an individual.
“I was rejected a lot of times,” Dr Radebe said. This has helped to build her independent and unique character, which is essential for a commissioner. She emphasised that though you will experience rejection and unpleasant seasons in life, you will benefit from hard work. As a final comment, Dr Rabede encouraged, “The students must know that it is possible, and [they should] remain humble and respectful in their career journey.”
