As the administrator of the ProBono.Org Cape Town office, I am no stranger to navigating challenges. I am often seen as the engine of the office as I book consultations for clients, juggle tight deadlines and provide administrative support to the team. However, earlier this year I was presented with a new challenge – to become a community paralegal.
I was first employed at ProBono.Org as a cleaner in 2020, so I am aware that I have come a long way since then. However, being exposed to the legal work at ProBono.Org led me to dream about being a community paralegal – especially since I am passionate about supporting the community.
After seeing the People’s Legal Centre call for community paralegal applications, Masi Ncube (the Cape Town Regional Manager) encouraged me to apply for the community paralegal course. I had to send in a written application as well as a five minute video. I was incredibly nervous, but a few weeks after I applied I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I had been selected to be one of the shortlisted applicants. When I went to the interview I didn’t think I would be one of the selected few because there were hundreds of applicants, but I was thrilled to hear that I was one of 30 people chosen to take part in the community paralegal course.
The course took place from February to June 2025. We covered the following modules: Labour Law, Debt, Family Law, Wills and Estates, Queer Rights, Refugee Law as well as Community and Constitution. It was a tough balance to work in the daytime and then to attend the paralegal classes every Monday and Wednesday from 17h30 – 20h30. I was used to heading home to relax and spend time with my family, but soon my evenings were filled with classes and assignments. But considering my love to learn, I started to get excited about learning more. Our previous regional manager used to joke by saying that I steal legal knowledge with my eyes and ears, and I felt like I was able to use this skill to absorb knowledge in the best way during the course. My learning experience was made even richer with the community leaders and activists who were learning by my side during the course.
The course facilitators taught us about spheres of government, filling in asylum seeker application forms, drafting letters of demand, researching, and reading case law. The course has come to an end and I will be forever grateful to the People’s Law Centre for the time and effort they set aside to teach me and other comrades. They were able to educate with compassion and with a mission to uplift communities. I am proud to have completed the course successfully and look forward to the graduation ceremony near the end of the year.
