Staff News

Odette Geldenhuys, the head of the Webber Wentzel Pro Bono Practice, has been appointed to the board. Both the board and management warmly welcome Odette as a board member. In 2006 she founded ProBono. Org and after heading up the Johannesburg office until 2010, she moved to Durban to launch and head up the Durban office until 2013.

Odette is recognised as one of the pioneers of the practice of pro bono legal services in South Africa and has received various awards for her substantive matters. Until 2023 she was the co-chair of the IBA Pro Bono Committee, and as from 2024 she is serving on its advisory board.

ProBono.Org is pleased to announce that Masi Ncube, formerly the staff attorney in the Cape Town office, has been appointed as the Regional Manager from 1 February 2024. Says Masi, “I am humbled to have been appointed as the ProBono.Org Western Cape Regional Manager as I have found my contributions to making access to justice tangible for marginalised and indigent people to be deeply satisfying. I have observed the effect of our work in alleviating the socio-economic issues that ravage low- income communities and I am determined to increase our impact. I am dedicated to engaging with the legal profession, civil society and our clients to solidify a culture of pro bono in the Western Cape and nationwide.”

Hellen Motau

Hellen joined ProBono.Org in 2024 as a Communications Intern. She graduated with a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Johannesburg in 2022. Prior to joining ProBono.Org, she actively participated in community projects. Some of her interests include the digital footprints of passion projects and how these can be improved for marketing, projects and beneficiaries. She aims to contribute her bit by trying to influence the digital narrative to make it educational, impactful and positive.

Yonela Yame

Yonela is a LLB graduate from the University of Johannesburg. She is a passionate advocate for human rights and subscribes to the feminist ideology. She is also a member of Amnesty International and the South African Women Lawyers Association. Joining ProBono.Org, an organisation that emphasises the value and importance of human rights, is a significant milestone in her professional career and activism. She hopes to contribute to the constant pursuit of ensuring that human rights are not delayed. Because human rights delayed are human rights denied.

Mence Chauke

Mence Chauke graduated with an LLB from the University of Johannesburg. She aims to bring positive change to the community and the society at large by being the voice for the voiceless. She believes that society would be a better place if everyone had knowledge about enforcement of their rights and how the law protects them. She also strongly believes that this is a great opportunity towards her career in the legal field and the road to bringing about positive change. The ProBono.Org organisation is a great start for her to bring about the positive change to communities and to the lives of the underprivileged by affording them just and fair legal services despite their social statuses.

Nqobile Mswane

Nqobile Mswane is an aspirant legal practitioner who graduated with an LLB degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2021. Her legal journey began at the Department of Health, working as a Legal Admin Intern. Her areas of interest include Family law, Labour and Property law. She is passionate about the realisation of human rights and equal access to justice for all.

The interns have already settled in and are busy at work. We hope their year with us will be a rewarding experience.