Palesa Malinga Curro Kathu alumna joins the Johannesburg Bar as Advocate of the High Court

04 June 2025

 

 

 

Palesa Malinga, a former learner from Curro Kathu’s very first matric class, has recently joined the Johannesburg Society of Advocates and is now an admitted Advocate of the High Court of South Africa. Her journey – from Representative Council of Learners (RCL) prefect to respected legal professional – speaks to the powerful foundation that school leadership, sport, and service can provide.

 

From Northern Cape classrooms to national courts

Palesa grew up in Dingleton and Kathu, completing matric in 2017 at Curro Kathu. While at school, she was an RCL prefect, captain of the 1st netball team, and vice-captain of the provincial hockey team for the Northern Cape.

After matric, she enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce in Law, with double majors in Financial Management and Human Resources Management. She went on to complete her undergraduate degree through Eduvos and her postgraduate qualifications at the University of the Witwatersrand.

 

A steady rise in leadership

Throughout her academic journey, Palesa continued to lead from the front. She served as SRC Academics and SRC President at Eduvos, and as SRC Legal and Constitution at Wits. Her contributions were recognised across borders – Africa’s Law Magazine in Nigeria named her a Starlight in the legal fraternity.

Palesa successfully completed her pupillage and bar exams and was admitted to the Johannesburg Society of Advocates – one of Africa’s leading bars. She now serves as an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, with the credibility and confidence to represent clients at the highest level.

 

Grounded in purpose

When asked what drives her, Palesa responded: ‘The debt of service I owe my generation demands that I confront a crucial question: How am I paving the way for others? My answer to this question shapes the significant impact I make by giving my best effort in everything I do, regardless of how small it may seem.’

Her journey continues, but one thing is clear – Curro Kathu’s inaugural alumna is already making her mark.