Justice Bess Nkabinde

Bess Nkabinde-Mmono was born in Silwerkrans/Tlokweng (North West Province) in 1959.  She is married and has four children. Nkabinde-Mmono matriculated at Mariasdal High School (Tweespruit - OFS) in 1979. She obtained a BProc degree at the University of Zululand in 1983, and an LLB from the University of the North West in 1986. She also attended the Damelin College, which awarded her a Diploma in Industrial Relations with Distinction.

Professional history

• 1984 - 1988 State Law Advisor - Legislative Drafting (Bophuthatshwana)
• 1988 Admission as Advocate (Bophuthatswana)
• 1989 Pupillage (Johannesburg Bar)
• 1989 Admission as Advocate (RSA)
• 1990 - 1999 Advocate, North West Bar. Areas of legal: civil, commercial, matrimonial as well as criminal matters.
• 1993 Attended a Judicial Training Programme in Canada
• 1994 - 1995 Mpshe Commission of Inquiry into the Mutiny of Warders at Mogwase Prison (Role of investigation and leading of evidence)
• Feb - Oct 1999 Acting Judge of the High Court (Bophuthatswana Provincial Division)
• November 1999 Judge of the High Court (Bophuthatswana Provincial Division
• 2000 Acting Judge of the Labour of the Labour Court (One term) (Johannessburg)
• 2003 Acting Judge of the Labour Court (One term) (Johannesburg)
• 2003 Appointed to serve on the Special Tribunal on civil matters likely to emanate from Investigations by the Special Investigative Units established in terms of Act No. 74 of 1996.
• October 2004 - May 2005 Acting Judge of the Labour Appeal Court
• 2004 Member of the Sub- Committee of the Coordinating Committee of the Justice System: on Racism and Sexism within the Judiciary Member
• 2004 - 2013: Chairperson of the Rules Board for Courts of Law
• June - November 2005 Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

• January 2006 to date: Justice of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of South Africa
• May 2016 - to date: Acting Deputy Justice of the Republic of South Africa
• November 2016: Acting Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa
   

Affiliations/Directorship and other positions held

• Member: North West Bar Association (1990 -1999); Secretary of the Bar (1998 – 1999)
• Member: Aids Committee, Bophuthatswana 1988
• Member: Black Lawyers Association
• Member: North West Parks Board (1995 - 1999)
• Director: Dirapeng (Pty) Ltd and Golden Leopard Resorts (Pty) Ltd (1997 - 1999); Invest North West (Pty) Ltd (1997 - 2000)
• Govenor: International School of South Africa (1995 - 1999)
• Member: Small Claims Court, Mahikeng (1998 - 1999)
• Member: Defunct Sub-Committee of the Judicial Education Training Committee
• Member: International Association of Women Judges: SA Chapter

Other involvements

• Attended and facilitated a discussion on 'The Rights of Minorities within the context of Access to Justice' at the First South Asian Regional Judicial Colloquium on 'Access to Justice' (New-Delhi) which was convened by the Chief Justice BN Kirpal and facilitated by Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), International Center for the Legal Protection of Human Rights (Interights) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (1 - 3 November 2002)
• Presentation on 'Appeals and Reviews' and on 'Sentencing'to the Aspirant Judges (Judicial Education Training Programme.
• Addressed newly appointed Margistrates at the Margistrates's conference (Justice College) on 'Judicial ethics, independence and accountability'.
• Address at the Family Court Seminar (Justice Regional Office/ Office of the Family Advocate (Mmabatho)
• Presentation on ' Socio-economic justice' during the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) road-show in bringing Parliament to the People (Mahikeng)
• Welcoming address at opening function of the Fourth Conference of Constitutional Jurisdictions of Africa (CCJA) on “Promoting the Independence of the Judiciary and the Rule of Law” (April 2017 – Cape Town)