Personal details
Bess Nkabinde-Mmono was born in Silwerkrans (North West Province) in 1959. She is married and has four children.
Education
Nkabinde-Mmono matriculated at Mariasdal High School (Tweespruit - OFS) in 1979. She obtained a BProc degree at the University of Zululand in 1983, and an LLB from the University of the North West in 1986. She also attended the Damelin College, which awarded her a Diploma in Industrial Relations with Distinction.
Professional history
1984 - 1988 State Law Advisor - Legislative Drafting (Bophuthatshwana)
1988 Admission as Advocate
1989 Pupillage (Johannesburg Bar)
1990 - 1999 Advocate, North West Bar. Areas of legal: civil, commercial, matrimonial as well as criminal matters.
1993 Attended a Judicial Training Programme in Canada
1994 - 1995 Mpshe Commission of Inquiry into the Mutiny of Warders at Mogwase Prison (Role of investigation and leading of evidence)
Feb - Oct 1999 Acting Judge of the High Court (Bophuthatswana Provincial Division)
November 1999 Judge of the High Court (Bophuthatswana Provincial Division
2000 Acting Judge of the Labour of the Labour Court (One term) (Johannessburg)
2003 Acting Judge of the Labour Court (One term) (Johannesburg)
2003 Appointed to serve on the Special Tribunal on civil matters likely to emanate from Investigations by the Special Investigative Units established in terms of Act No. 74 of 1996.
October 2004 - May 2005 Acting Judge of the Labour Appeal Court
June - November 2005 Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Affiliations/Directorship and other positions held
Member: North West Bar Association (1990 -1999); Secretary of the Bar between 1998 and 1999
Member: Aids Committee, Bophuthatswana 1988
Member: Black Lawyers Association
Member: North West Parks Board (1995 - 1999)
Director: Dirapeng (Pty) Ltd and Golden Leopard Resorts (Pty) Ltd (1997 - 1999); Invest North West (Pty) Ltd (1997 - 2000)
Govenor: International School of South Africa (1995 - 1999)
Member: Small Claims Court, Mafikeng (1998 - 1999)
Member: Defunct Sub-Committee of the Judicial Education Training Committee
Member: International Association of Women Judges: SA Chapter
Member: The Coodinating Committee of the Justice System
Member: Sub-committee on Racism and Sexism within the Judiciary
Member And Chaiperson: The Rules Board for Courts of Law
Other involvements
Attended and facilitated a discussion on 'The Rights of Minorities within the context of Access to Justice' at the First South Asian Regional Judicial Colloquium on 'Access to Justice' (New-Delhi) which was convened by the Chief Justice BN Kirpal and facilitated by Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), International Center for the Legal Protection of Human Rights (Interights) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)(1 - 3 Nonvember 2002)
Presentation on 'Appeals and Reviews' and on 'Sentencing'to the Aspirant Judges (Judicial Education Training Programme.
Addressed newly appointed Margistrates at the Margistrates's conference (Justice College) on 'Judicial ethics, independence and accountability'.
Address at the Family Court Seminar (Justice Regional Office/ Office of the Family Advocate (Mmabatho)
Presentation on ' Socio-economic justice' during the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) road-show in bringing Parliament to the People (Mafikeng)
