Nompumelelo Manyise: 2026 Courtroom Mail 100 (SHID) nominee spotlight

Nompumelelo Manyise, is an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, her practice is mainly based in the Limpopo Province. She graduated with the University of Pretoria in 2021 and completed her pupillage with the Limpopo Society of Advocates in 2023. This is her second year in practice.

She is a junior counsel member of the Limpopo Society of Advocates since April 2024, and her practice includes but is not limited to litigation in personal injuries claims, medical negligence, company law, land claim, customary law and partly criminal procedure. Nompumelelo Manyise is also a member of the Pro-bono Committee of the Limpopo Society of Advocates, where they do pro-bono work and assist community members who cannot afford legal services working in partnership with other stakeholders like Unisa Law clinic, LPC. She is also involved in the University of Pretoria final year mentorship program where she mentors and guides prospective law students by guiding them into the profession and offering advice about the field of law. She has mentored 5 students from 2023 till 2025, where she started with one mentee, and two for each year since. She plans to continue with the mentoring program even in 2026.

Nompumelelo Manyise is also an active member of the BLA (Black Lawyers Association), she enjoys helping her community, she is a dedicated lawyer, has touched countless lives through her work, always striving for justice and fairness for those in need. But what makes her truly special is her kindness, her unwavering faith and the way she believes in people, inspiring them to be their best selves. She prays with a sincere heart, offers encouragement without expecting anything in return and makes everyone around her feel valued and capable. Her combination of compassion, strength and genuine care makes her a rare and extraordinary person.

Apart from her profession, Nompumelelo is a writer and had her first article published when she was doing her final year LLB titled “Gender Based Violence in the Workplace”. She is an activist and has served in national women structures like the African National Congress Women’s league Young Women’s Desk as a coordinator for the sexual and reproductive health committee empowering women and youth. She was also involved in student politics where she led as a secretary of SASCO (South African Student Congress) championing for student rights, access to education and support thereof. She also enjoys playing badminton in her spare time and is a member of the Capricorn Badminton club, she was formerly a USSA national player for Tuks Badminton. Nompumelelo also takes part in community development programs educating and motivating the youth about the law.

Her goals and aspiration are to complete her master’s degree that she is currently pursuing, serve the community with diligence and honestly. In 10 years time get the status of SILK, being a senior counsel and continue doing what she loves which is practising the law.

Her greatest achievement is waking up every morning and facing the world no matter how tough it is. One quick fact about me: “Nompumelelo left the big city where she was born in Gauteng to start her practice in a small city and she is loving it”