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Justice Mbuyiseli Russel Madlanga, former acting Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa, has been officially installed as Chancellor of Rhodes University.
Madlanga began his academic journey at the University of Transkei, now Walter Sisulu University, where he completed a BJuris degree in 1983. He received the Juta Prize for being the best law student during his studies.
He later earned an LLB at Rhodes University in 1986, where he also tutored first-year students. In 1990, he graduated cum laude with an LLM from the University of Notre Dame in the USA, funded by the Bradlow Notre Dame Human Rights Law Scholarship.
Career Highlights in Law and Justice
| Year | Milestone or Appointment |
|---|---|
| 1983 | BJuris, University of Transkei (now WSU) |
| 1986 | LLB, Rhodes University |
| 1990 | LLM (Cum Laude), Notre Dame (USA) |
| 1991 | Appointed Judge, Mthatha High Court at age 34 |
| 2013 | Permanent Judge, Constitutional Court |
| 2016 | Honorary LLD, Walter Sisulu University |
| 2023 | Honorary LLD, Rhodes University |
| 2025 | Appointed Chancellor, Rhodes University |
Leadership and Legal Legacy
In July 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed the retired Justice Madlanga to lead a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of political interference and corruption in the justice system.
Known as the Madlanga Commission, the inquiry investigates organised crime, corruption, and political influence across South Africa’s criminal justice institutions.
Madlanga previously interned at Amnesty International in Washington DC and later practised at the Mthatha Bar. His judiciary roles included:
- Acting Judge of Appeal, Supreme Court of Appeal
- Judge of Appeal, Competition Appeal Court
- Acting Judge President, Mthatha High Court
He delivered several precedent-setting rulings during his time at the Constitutional Court and held visiting professor posts at universities in both South Africa and the US.
Homegrown Excellence, Global Impact
Justice Madlanga was born on 27 March 1962 in Njijini, a rural village near KwaBhaca (formerly Mount Frere), Eastern Cape.
He matriculated in 1979 from Mariazell High School in Matatiele. He is married to Nosisi Monica Madlanga (née Nkenkana) and they have seven children.
During his academic career, he also held the prestigious Clynes Chair at Notre Dame Law School — a position previously occupied by US Supreme Court Justices.
“He delivered a number of precedent-setting and groundbreaking judgments as a Constitutional Court justice,” the release states.
Original source: Walter Sisulu University
Compiled by: Malibongwe Dayimani | Image: Supplied / RU
Article by: Quan Dambuza | Pondoland Times
