The winners of the Legal Aid South Africa Annual Achievers Awards. Back Row: Gudu Mngomezulu; Leona Fraser; Nomsa Nkosi; Wayne Hancock; Tessa Gopal; and Nkateko Ngidi. Front Row: Stephen Mofokeng and Ayanda Silumko.

By Kgomotso Ramotsho

 Legal Aid South Africa (Legal Aid SA) honoured its top achievers at its annual achievers awards ceremony. The awards were held last year November at Lilieslief Farm, Rivonia. In a press release, Legal Aid SA said that the awards were to honour high performers throughout the organisation for their contribution for ensuring access to justice.

Lawyers from the district, regional and High Courts were recognised, as well as civil lawyers and paralegals. Legal Aid SA said the hard work of lawyers ensures that more members of the public are able to receive legal assistance, in line with their constitutional rights and their constitutional mandate.

Winners were announced in the following categories:

• Supervisory/programme manager of the year: Gudu Mngomezulu.
• Lawyer of the year – High Courts: Leona Fraser.
• Business unit of the year: Nomsa Nkosi.
• Lawyer of the year – district court: Wayne Hancock.
• Lawyer of the year – civil: Tessa Gopal.
• Lawyer of the year – district courts: Nkateko Ngidi.
• Manager of the year: Stephen Mofokeng.
• Second runner-up lawyer of the year: Ayanda Silumko.
• Paralegal of the year: Amanda Mdaka.

 Kgomotso Ramotsho Cert Journ (Boston) Cert Photography (Vega) is the news reporter at De Rebus.

 This article was first published in De Rebus in 2017 (March) DR 8.