Advocate Pansy Tlakula is one of Africa’s foremost legal minds and a tireless advocate for freedom of expression, access to information, and human rights. With a distinguished career spanning public service, academia, and international diplomacy, she currently serves as the Chairperson of the Information Regulator of South Africa, where she oversees the country’s implementation of data privacy and access to information laws.
Advocate Tlakula’s leadership and influence extend across the African continent. She served for a decade (2005–2015) as a member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), where she championed key reforms and led groundbreaking work in information rights. In 2015, she was appointed Chairperson of the ACHPR, a position she held until 2017. She also served as the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, and Chairperson of the Commission’s Working Group on Specific Issues related to the advancement of human rights in Africa.
Her deep commitment to democratic development was demonstrated through her role as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of South Africa, where she played a critical role in overseeing free and fair elections and strengthening electoral integrity.
An accomplished scholar, Advocate Tlakula holds a B. Proc degree from the University of the North (now University of Limpopo), an LL.B from the University of the Witwatersrand, and an LL.M from Harvard University. In recognition of her contributions to the legal profession and human rights advocacy, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Legal Studies by the Vaal University of Technology in 2006.
Her impact spans not only governance and law, but also education and institutional reform. She has served in numerous high-profile roles including:
- Chancellor, Vaal University of Technology
- Chairperson of the Board, National Credit Regulator
- Chairperson of the Council, North West University
- National Director, Black Lawyers Association
- Senior Law Lecturer, University of Bophuthatswana (now North West University)
- Founding Commissioner, South African Human Rights Commission
Advocate Tlakula is widely recognized for her visionary leadership, unwavering integrity, and lifelong dedication to justice, equality, and democratic values. Her voice continues to shape conversations on digital rights, transparency, and the future of governance in Africa and beyond.