Wandile Brian Zondo joined Natural Justice in October 2024 as a Researcher for the Southern Africa Hub team. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and a Master of Laws in Environmental Law (LLM) from the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Before joining Natural Justice, Wandile worked as a Research Assistant at the Land and Accountability Research Centre (LARC) at UCT, where he focused on the recognition and protection of rights and Living Customary Law in former apartheid homelands. As a member of the Mining Team, he researched the impact of mining activities on communities. In addition, he worked in the Department of Public Law at UCT as a Teaching Assistant, delivering guest lectures on Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure, Law of Evidence, and Administrative Law.
Currently, Wandile is pursuing his PhD in Public Law under the supervision of Dr Nomfundo Ramalekana and Associate Professor Fatima Osman. His research explores the underrepresentation of women in traditional leadership and examines the effects of constitutional recognition of customary law on the gender composition of traditional leadership in KwaZulu-Natal. He has presented at both local and international conferences and has been published in the Oxford Human Rights Hub and African Law Matters.
Wandile’s research interests encompass Environmental Law, Constitutional Law, African Customary Law, Administrative Law, and Human Rights. His commitment to social justice, human rights advocacy, and the promotion of legal education within marginalised communities drives his interdisciplinary and socio-legal work. Outside of his professional endeavours, Wandile is passionate about nature and has a strong love for music.