Legal Aid South Africa
Public Entity · Justice and Protection Services · reports to Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD)
Legal Aid South Africa provides legal representation to people who cannot afford it. It operates under the Legal Aid South Africa Act, 2014 (Act No. 39 of 2014), and gives effect to the constitutional right to have a legal practitioner assigned at state expense where substantial injustice would otherwise result.
The bulk of its work is criminal defence, where it represents accused persons in the magistrates’ courts, regional courts and High Court. It also handles civil matters within its means test, particularly those affecting children, evictions, land and labour.
It operates through justice centres and satellite offices nationally, employing salaried legal practitioners and briefing private practitioners where necessary. It reports to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
Audit record, 5 years
Financial highlights, 2024/25
- Total Revenue
- R2.2bn
- Total Expenditure
- −R2.3bn
- Total Assets
- R756m
- Total Liabilities
- R375m
Values in rand. Sparklines run oldest to newest and are scaled to each series, not to zero.
Leadership, 29 listed
- Chairperson
- Judge Nobolao Martha Mbhele
- Deputy Chairperson
- Adv Kgotso Godfrey Maja
- Board Members
- Mr Shawn Coetzee Prof Ntombizozuko Dyani-Mhango Ms Lorraine Zanele Francois Ms Nonduduzo Samukelisiwe Khanyile Ms Mantiti Kola Mr Thabiso Mbhense Ms Tintswalo Mofokeng Ms Rehana Khan Parker Mr Stephen Kete Ralekwa Mr Nkhangweni Rambau Ms Rahab Serepong
- Chief Executive Officer
- Ms Mantiti Kola
- Chief Financial Officer
- Ms Tintswalo Mofokeng
- Chief Operations Officer
- Mr Ntsumbedzeni Nemasisi
- Executive Managers
- Mr Sethopo Mamotheti
- Senior Management
- Mr Richard Baloyi Mr Hope Bambiso Ms Nolitha Jali Ms Mpho Kgabi Ms Lungile Magoso Mr Tshotlego Makamedi Mr Thabiso Mbhense Mr Stephen Mofokeng Ms Mmantsha Monwa Mr Mthunzi Ndlangamandla Ms Pateka Quwe
- Communications Officers
- Mr Godfrey Matsobe
Description written for this directory from the entity’s own published sources: legal-aid.co.za, www.gov.za