Inside Thuli Madonsela’s life: From her family and education to books, awards, and quotes

My courage comes, firstly, from compassion...And when you have compassion and commitment, courage is automatic. The courage to restore justice. I don’t think justice is what the public protector does or the courts do. Justice is what we’re supposed to do every day.

South Africa’s former Public Protector lives up to the meaning of her name, Thulisile. A champion of justice, Thuli Madonsela has left a lasting legacy in every office she has served. She has earned international recognition due to her selfless service in South Africa’s legal system. Here is a look at Thuli Madonsela’s life and achievements.

Key takeaways

• Thuli Madonsela’s life reflects that of a woman who has made a lasting impact in every office she has held as an advocate.
• One of her most significant roles was serving as South Africa’s Public Protector from 2009 to 2016.
• She also played a key role in drafting the country’s current constitution.

Profile summary

Inside Thuli Madonsela’s life

Thuli Madonsela is one of the most accomplished women with an admirable legal career. Her passion for justice led her to study law at university, paving the way for various roles in the legal field.

She steadily rose through the ranks and served as South Africa’s Public Protector from 2009 to 2016. Though her tenure was marked by many challenges, she demonstrated wisdom and resilience. She left behind a legacy that continues to inspire many.

How old is Thuli Madonsela?

Thuli Madonsela's age is sixty three years old as of 2025. She was born on 28 September 1962.

Thuli Madonsela's family

Thulisile Nomkhosi Madonsela was born to Bafana and Nomasonto Madonsela, who made a living through informal trading. She grew up in Soweto with her brother, Musa Madonsela. Her family traces its roots to Swaziland.

Thuli Madonsela's husband

Thuli Madonsela’s first husband passed away when her children were young. However, it is alleged that she was never married to the father of her two children.

Thuli Madonsela's children

Thuli Madonsela raised her children as a single parent after their father passed away when they were young. She successfully balanced motherhood with building her career. Her daughter, Wenzile Madonsela, and son, Mbusowabantu Fidel, have both grown up under her care.

Wenzile recently married Khulekile Msimang in a colourful traditional ceremony held in KwaZulu-Natal. The couple has a daughter named Melo. Wenzile is also a member of the EFF and is currently studying law at university.

Thuli Madonsela's wedding

In a 2018 interview with Real, Madonsela revealed that she had found love and was engaged to the love of her life, Dick Foxton, a public relations consultant. However, she did not share details about their wedding. Commenting on the matter, she said:

We have not set a date yet and I will announce the name of the other party whenever we finally set the date.

Since then, the advocate has not shared any further details, including whether she married Dick Foxton. As of 2025, Thuli Madonsela’s wedding pictures are still not publicly available.

What is Thuli Madonsela's academic background?

Between 1980 and 1983, Thuli attended Evelyn Baring High School, located in Nhlangano, Swaziland. After completing high school, she entered the legal field, working as a legal and education officer with the Paper Printing Wood & Allied Workers Union from 1984 to 1987.

In 1987, she graduated from the University of Swaziland with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law. She later enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand, graduating in 1990 with an LLB.

On 26 March 2015, Madonsela was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree (LL.D. honoris causa) by Stellenbosch University. On 11 June of the same year, she received another honorary LL.D. from the University of Cape Town.

She was also awarded honorary doctorates by Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare. On 29 May 2019, North-West University conferred another honorary doctorate upon her.

Thuli Madonsela's career

From a young age, Thuli showed an interest in the legal field. As a result, she chose to pursue a career in law and has held various positions for many years.

She began her career in 1987, serving in both governmental and non-governmental institutions and organizations.

As part of her journey, she worked as a lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand. She also served as a Presiding Officer for the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and as Deputy Director in the Justice Department.

In 1994, Thuli was involved in drafting South Africa’s constitution.

Public Protector South Africa

On 19th October 2009, Thuli Madonsela was officially appointed as the Public Protector by then-President Jacob Zuma. She was set to serve a non-renewable seven-year term. Thuli took over the position from Lawrence Mushwana.

At the time of her appointment, she was the only commissioner of the South African Law Reform Commission serving on a full-time basis. Her role as Public Protector brought her into the spotlight, particularly due to the high-profile cases she investigated.

One such case was the allocation of state resources to President Zuma's Nkandla residence, which captured public attention. Another significant moment came with the release of the State of Capture report on 2nd November 2016.

Thuli's tenure was widely praised for her dedication and commitment to her office. She was commended for her professionalism and efficiency by many organizations, including the BBC, The Daily Maverick, ANN7, Glamour, Transparency International, and Time.

Her term ended on 14th October 2016, in line with the contract she signed when assuming office. She handed over the position to Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, who was appointed as her successor.

Thuli Madonsela awards and honours

One good turn deserves another, and Thuli's commitment to her job has not only an admirable career but also a couple of awards. These are some of the awards that she has bagged in the course of her career:

• In 2011, she was recognised by the Daily Maverick for “serving her role as an ombudsman to the exercise of executive power with an unwavering commitment to truth." The recognition was followed by her being named the South African Person of the Year.
• In 2014, she received the Transparency International Integrity Award.
• In 2014, she received the title of Woman of Courage during the Glamour Women of the Year Awards.
• In 2014, she was recognised as the ANN7 South African of the Year.
• In 2014, the Times magazine made an official recognition of Thuli, describing her as "an inspirational example of what African public officers need to be”. She was recognised as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in the Leaders category.
• In 2015, she received honorary awards from Stellenbosch University, University of Cape Town, and the University of Hare and Rhodes University.
• In 2016, she was bestowed with the award of Forbes African Person of the Year – German Africa Prize.
• In 2016, she received the FW de Klerk Goodwill Award.
• In 2016, she was recognised as BBC's top 100 women.
• In 2019, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the North West University.
• In 2021, Thuli Madonsela was awarded the highest French honour, the Knight of the Legion of Honour.

What is Thuli Madonsela's new job?

Madonsela has taken on a new role as the Director of the Centre for Social Justice at Stellenbosch University. In addition to this position, she serves as the Law Trust Research Chair in Social Justice at the same institution. She is also a professor of law and a fellow of the African Academy of Sciences.

Thuli Madonsela's books

Apart from being the influential lady that she is, the advocate finds pride in sharing her ideas through books. These are some of the publications that she has done so far:

• Secure in Comfort that was published on 19th March 2014.
• “Corruption” that was published in September 2012
• Women and the law in South Africa: Gender equality jurisprudence in landmark court decisions. It was published in 2014.
• “Beyond Putting Women on the Agenda” which was published in 1995.

Thuli Madonsela's quotes

Thuli has never been shy when it comes to sharing nuggets of wisdom. These are some of her quotes that prove the wise lady that she is:

You are somebody right now. Never let anyone make you believe you are somebody when you have a title.

It’s vital that every girl determines, as early as possible, who she is and what her contribution to humanity will be.

[Forgiveness is] not for the wrongdoers but to liberate yourself from their emotional prison.

If there is one thing I’ve learned, it is that wrong things are not done by bad people.

Just because we deal with underhanded people, doesn’t mean we too must be underhanded.

At times, we have to stand alone with only hope as our companion. If you stand for the truth and do so long enough, hope does eventually pay.’

..listen well [to] hear what is not said.

What are the contributions of Thuli Madonsela?

The advocate has made a lasting impact on South Africa and beyond through her unwavering commitment to justice, transparency, and advocacy for human rights as seen below;

• Public Protector of South Africa (2009–2016): Exposed high-profile corruption cases, including the “State of Capture” report involving former President Jacob Zuma.
• Anti-Corruption Advocate: Championed transparency, accountability, and good governance in public service.
• Legal Reformer: Played a key role in drafting South Africa’s post-apartheid laws, including the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act.
• Academic Leader: Serves as Director of the Centre for Social Justice and Law Trust Research Chair in Social Justice at Stellenbosch University.
• Human Rights Champion: Focuses on eliminating inequality and promoting social justice through policy, education, and research.
• Global Recognition: Honored with numerous local and international awards for her work in law, ethics, and leadership.
• Thought Leader: Member of the African Academy of Sciences and a respected voice on justice and democracy in Africa.

Is Vusi Madonsela related to Thuli Madonsela?

No, Vusi Madonsela is not related to Thuli Madonsela. The two only share a similar surname.

What is Thuli Madonsela's salary?

Thuli Madonsela earned R2,458,019 per year as Public Protector. This is about R2.5 million annually. It matches the salary of a Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal or the Constitutional Court in South Africa. There is no official information about her current salary at Stellenbosch University.

Does Thuli Madonsela have children?

Yes, Thuli Madonsela has children. She raised two children as a single mother; her daughter, Wenzile Madonsela, and her son, Mbusowabantu Fidel.

What are the qualifications of advocate Thuli Madonsela?

Thuli Madonsela holds a BA in Law from the University of Swaziland and an LLB from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa and has received multiple honorary doctorates in law from top South African universities.

Who is the current public protector?

Advocate Nompilo Kholeka Gcaleka is the current Public Protector of South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed her to the role on November 1, 2023, for a seven-year term, which is non-renewable.

Where is Thuli Madonsela now?

Thuli Madonsela is currently based at Stellenbosch University, where she leads the Centre for Social Justice. She also holds the Law Trust Research Chair in Social Justice and teaches law at the university. Beyond academia, she is recognized as a fellow of the African Academy of Sciences.

Thuli Madonsela's life shows that she is an accomplished lady who has set the trend for women in South Africa. She committed herself to serving the country, and it is paying off. Her fight against corruption shows that she is an ethical person with a morally upright character.

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Source: Briefly News