Thembile Skweyiya

Thembile Skweyiya Lewis ( born June 17, 1939 in Worcester ) is a South African lawyer and since 2004, judge of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of South Africa.

Education and professional career

After his parents went with him to Cape Town, Skweyiya first attended elementary school there. He completed his education but ultimately at the Healdtown Comprehensive School in Healdtown from. He then attended the University of Natal, where he earned a bachelor's degree in social sciences. The subsequent study of law, he graduated there in 1967 with a Bachelor of Laws. Between 1968 and 1970 he completed his practical training at a law firm and then as a litigator ( Advocate) was approved. In addition, he allowed himself to law in Lesotho and the High Court of Namibia. From 1971 Skweyiya worked as a lawyer in Durban. First, he dealt primarily with cases in the field of civil and commercial law. From about 1981 he increasingly perceived mandates with respect to human rights violations and was involved as a defender of numerous political process. After eight years of activity in this area, he again focused on business law cases. During his legal practice, he was also a member of the board of numerous companies. In 1995, he joined the civil service and had to 2001 more sites as acting judge, among other things held at the Eastern Cape Provincial Division. On February 1, 2001, he had appointed a full-time judge. Between August 2001 and May 2002, he first worked as a provisional judge of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of South Africa, before he was appointed in February 2004 for full-time judge.

Memberships (Selection)

From 1973 until its ban in 1977 Skweyiya advised the South African Students Organisation. From 1985 to 1990 he was associate editor of the South African Journal on Human Rights.