- The first 2026 court appearance highlights rigorous questioning and courtroom preparation.
- Interactions with senior counsel and a judge provided mentorship, insight, and inspiration for aspiring lawyers.
- The experience reinforced a commitment to excellence, collegiality, and the growth of black legal professionals.
On Tuesday, 6 January 2026, at the North Gauteng High Court, held at Pretoria… Remember, my robe is fresh from dry cleaning. This marks the first case of 2026. Our year has started. Our robes are clean and neat. Our minds are refreshed and ready.
I met very seasoned and senior counsels, Advocate Sikhwari SC, Advocate Shakoane SC, and Advocate Mosoma. I told them that they must sanguige me in between with their self-fitted senior robes. I also want to be a senior counsel. Trust me, we can reach any height we can imagine. The black senior counsels represent black excellence in my perspective and process of issues.
I was impressed because the judge had a few law students he introduced to us. They came to learn what advocates do in courts. The idea was really striking and brilliant to me. I respect the judge for really doing that, exposing law students to the court environment.
Rigorous questioning and inspiration
In court, the judge asked me a lot of questions, more than usual. I literally presented my entire founding affidavit, practice notes, and heads of arguments simply answering the judge. I was demanded to point at paragraphs where I allude in my presentation.
The back and forth took at least 90 minutes. In an urgent court, one expects to bring a summary and move, but not today. The judge said, “I will be your opposition; you must first win me.” I tried my level best because in court, A is for efforts at all times.
I can conclude that when we went for the introduction, we had a very collegial moment. The lawyers’ jokes were so funny, the environment was very contagious that one could easily get contaminated. Meeting the judge was even funnier.
I do not share to brag. I share to inspire upcoming lawyers. Even if I brag, after all, I earned it. No apologies for sharing my court experiences. I am growing in love every day with this thing of being a robot called an advocate.
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