Kellelo Justina Mafoso-Guni
Kellelo Justina Mafoso-Guni | |
---|---|
Justice on the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights | |
In office 2006–2010 | |
Justice in the High Court of Lesotho | |
In office ?–? | |
Crown Counsel in Lesotho | |
In office 1970–? | |
Personal details | |
Born | (1945-12-08) December 8, 1945 (age 78) Hlotse, Basutoland (present-day Lesotho) |
Died | 2024 (2025) |
Education | University of Lesotho, University of Edinburgh |
Kellelo Justina Mafoso-Guni (December 8, 1945 – June 5, 2024)[1] was a Mosotho lawyer, the first female lawyer in Lesotho, as well as a former justice of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights and the High Court of Lesotho (where she was the first woman on the Court).[1][2][3]
Early life and education
Mafoso-Guni was born in Hlotse on December 8, 1945. She studied law at the University of Lesotho and the University of Edinburgh.[4] She became the first female lawyer in Lesotho.[5]
Career
Mafoso-Guni was appointed Crown Counsel in Lesotho in 1970. She then moved to the United Kingdom and worked in the civil serve for twelve years.[4] She returned to Africa and was appointed magistrate in Zimbabwe on 28 September 1980, the first woman appointed to the bench.[4][6] She served there for twelve years.[4] Other sources have erroneously stated that Mavis Gibson was the first female judge in Zimbabwe's history.[7][8] While Gibson did serve as a judge in Zimbabwe, she was actually the High Court of Namibia's first female judge.[9]
Mafoso-Guni returned to Lesotho and was appointed to the High Court of Lesotho, again as the first female judge.[4][10] In 2006, she was elected as one of the first judges of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights for a four-year term,[4][10] one of two women alongside Sophia Akuffo.
She died on June 5, 2024.[1][11][12]
Publications
- Guni, Kelello (1990). "The Problem of Baby-Dumping in Zimbabwe". Working Paper. 26. University of Oslo, Institute of Women's Law.
- Mafoso-Guni, Kelello (1994). Report on Parliamentarians Workshop held on 16th November, 1994 : Maseru Sun Cabanas. FIDA.
Judicial writings
- Ntsapo Petlane (Born Makunya) v Mathe Petlane & Another (Duly assisted). CIV/APN/476/9825. August 1999
- R. Potoketsi v. Rex. CRI/A/22/98 . 15 February 1999
- African Oxygen Ltd v. Stm Marketing & Agencies Ltd & Another. CIV/APN/191/99, CIV/APN/270/99. 7 April 2000
- Ned Bank (Lesotho) Ltd v. Sotho Development Corporation (Pty) Ltd. CIV/T/450/99. 23 May 2000
- Rex v. Lisebo Mokhoro. CRI/T/39/96. 24 November 2000.
- Theresia Leoma v. Makhang Leoma. CIV/APN/465/99, CIV/APN/520/99. 8 August 2000
See also
References
- ^ a b c Lesotho News Agency, Justice Guni Laid to rest, article dated June 21, 2024
- ^ African Women In Law website, African Women and International Courts
- ^ "ACHPR: African Court Of Human And Peoples' Rights". Project on International Courts and Tribunals. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f "Profiles of Former Judges". African Court on Human and People's Rights.
- ^ Baetens, Freya (2020-12-10). Identity and Diversity on the International Bench: Who is the Judge?. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-264375-9.
- ^ "Independence gave justice to all". The Herald. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ Legal Forum. Legal Resources Foundation. 1997.
- ^ Independent Zimbabwe. Department of Information, Government of Zimbabwe. 1985.
- ^ Legal Forum. Legal Resources Foundation. 1997.
- ^ a b Levitt, Jeremy I. (2015). Black Women and International Law: Deliberate Interactions, Movements and Actions. Cambridge University Press. p. 54. ISBN 9781316298404.
- ^ "Justice Guni mourned - ThePost". Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "Judiciary Pays Tribute to First Female Judge". Lesotho News Agency. 2024-06-12. Retrieved 2024-07-31.