Biography
Dumisa Ntsebeza (born October 31, 1949) is a political activist, lawyer, acting judge, author, and teacher. He is one of the few South Africans who struggled with the apartheid government in the mid-70s.
He has enjoyed a great extent as a Commissioner for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He is Chancellor of the University of Fort Hare and was the first black chairperson of Barloworld.
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| Quick Facts | |
| Full Name: | Dumisa Buhle Ntsebeza |
| Born: | October 31, 1949 (age 73 years) |
| Place of Birth: | Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Education: | Law |
| Occupation: | Lawyer, Activist, Author |
| Relatives: | Lungisile Ntsebeza |
| Position: | Chancellor of the University of Fort Hare |
Early Life
Dumisa Ntsebeza was born on October 31, 1949, in Eastern Cape, South Africa. He was active in opposing the apartheid regime and got arrested in the mid-70s and served jail time. During this time, he obtained a Law degree.
Career
In 1995, he became the commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In 2017, he got appointed as the Chancellor of the University of Fort Hare.
Dumisa has been practicing law for over thirty years. He was an attorney for about seventeen years. He has worked at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, where he taught the law of evidence, criminal law, and human rights law.
The advocate quit teaching after becoming Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He went into office in December 1995 and left in January 1999.
Dumisa has also held other notable positions, like Chairman of the Media and Entertainment Company Avusa. He made history as the first African to get conferred silk status in the history of the Cape Bar in 2005.
As an advocate, he practices general law – labor, mining, constitutional and administrative, and land law. He has headed several disciplinary actions and presided on several arbitrations.
Ntsebeza is also a trained arbitrator and has sat as a judge in many divisions of the high court of South Africa. He is also a qualified commercial mediator.
Dumisa, among many other South Africans, is a notable activist during the struggle in the 70s. He is a founder of the South African Black Lawyers Association.
Dumisa Ntsebeza is a visiting professor of Political Science and Law at the University of Connecticut, the United States.
Personal Life
His brother, Professor Lungisile Ntsebeza, is Chairman of the Desmond Tutu Peace Trust. He is also a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.