Naseema Fakir
Executive Director
Naseema Fakir was admitted to the Bar in 2019 and holds an LLB from the University of Witwatersrand and BA (Honours) from the University of Johannesburg. She previously practiced as an attorney in 2006 and served as Director of the Legal Resources Centre Johannesburg for 8 years. She also worked as Head of Legal Services at Lawyers for Human Rights in the refugee programme and at the South African Human Rights Commission. Naseema has experience in both public and private law, constitutional and administrative law in a career dedicated to using the law to serve the interests of the most vulnerable and marginalised of society.
Chanel van der Linde
Senior Researcher
Chanel holds a BA in International Relations and Political Studies from Wits University, LLB from Wits University, and an LLM in Multidisciplinary Human Rights from the University of Pretoria. Her LLM thesis is a post-colonial exploration of Outer Space and Human Rights. Chanel has over 10 years of experience in LGBTIQ+ activism and previously worked as SOGIESC Unit Manager at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. She has experience in regional human rights mechanisms, international human rights law and public law.
Lirette Bezuidenhout
Research Consultant
Lirette has a strong legal academic background with a particular focus on human rights in the African regional human rights system. She completed her LLB cum laude at the University of the Free State, whereafter she enrolled at the University of Pretoria to complete a LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa. During this time, she also spent a few months at the law faculty at Makerere University in Uganda. In 2005, she obtained an LLD at the University of Pretoria with a thesis entitled "An Analysis of State Compliance with the Recommendations of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights". In 2016, she completed an LLM in Shipping Law with distinction from the University of Cape Town.
For the past 20 years, Lirette has served as legal researcher and legal adviser in the executive and legislative branches of government. She has worked in the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Department of Correctional Services, the Department of Defence as well as the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly. Lirette has vast experience and valuable skills in policy development, legislative drafting and processing of legislation through Parliament as well as drafting legal opinions and memorandums of understanding.
Vuyani Ndzishe
Researcher
Vuyani's work focuses on constitutional governance, the rule of law, and the functioning of democratic institutions. He previously worked at the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit at the University of Cape Town as a Research and Advocacy Intern on the Judges Matter project, where he contributed to a number of research initiatives on judicial governance. During this time, he also played a role in piloting the “Supporting Anti-Corruption Courts” campaign, which monitored and reported on the progress of corruption cases before the Special Tribunal and the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
He later served as a law clerk at the Constitutional Court of South Africa to Justice Rogers and Acting Justice Bilchitz (Professor Bilchitz). Vuyani holds a BA, majoring in Political and International Studies and Legal Theory, and an LLB from Rhodes University. He is currently reading for an LLM in Public Law at the University of Cape Town.
Outside of work, he cosplays as a committed Beyoncé enthusiast who has not quite managed to watch all her performances and occasionally botches her lyrics but he compensates by making excellent salads for anyone who appreciates a good bowl of greens.
Ipeleng Motuba
Researcher
Ipeleng holds an LLB from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and an LLM from the University of Southern California (USC), Gould School of Law. Currently, she is in the process of completing her admission as an attorney. With 10 years of combined legal experience, her work sits at the intersection of law, culture, commerce, and human rights, with a particular focus on protecting creative labour, intellectual property, and vulnerable rights-holders in complex international environments. At the core of her purpose is a commitment of self-determination; using the law as an ethical tool to empower individuals and communities with the knowledge, structure, and protection needed to shape their futures. In her spare time, Ipeleng is a yoga enthusiast who enjoys spending time on the beach and cooking for loved ones. She is also a cinephile and music lover who believes in dreams come true.
Yvette Ondinga
Office Administrator
Yvette Ondinga has worked in different capacities since joining HSF. She is currently the Office Administrator for the HSF. Prior to joining the HSF, she worked as a Project Coordinator for the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), in Johannesburg.
Thuli Mbhele
Office Assistant
Thuli comes from Sebokeng and matriculated in 2006 after which she started working at Great South Autobody quoting on car repairs. Thuli joined the HSF family in 2018.
