Dr Kgopotso Maunatlala, a lecturer in the Department of Private Law at the University of Pretoria's (UP) Faculty of Law, is part of the 2025 Autumn Graduation cohort and was recently awarded her Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree. Her research makes a significant contribution to legal education reform, particularly in repositioning customary law within South Africa’s LLB curriculum.

Hailing from the village of Moletjie ga-Makgwakgwane outside Polokwane in Limpopo, Dr Maunatlala attributes her academic path to the influence of her family. “I am the third-born daughter of Pastor and Mrs Nkoe. My mother is a seasoned teacher and my father an advocate for education. As such, I inevitably inherited the love for empowering myself with knowledge,” she said.

She completed her BA Law (with Psychology), LLB, LLM, and LLD degrees at the University of Pretoria. She also completed her vocational training through the School for Legal Practice at UP Enterprise. Her loyalty to UP, was cemented by the sense of academic belonging and the law faculty’s esteemed standing on the continent. “When I started studying at UP, it became more of a home for me. This home status became even more entrenched when the UP Law Faculty was crowned the number one law faculty in Africa.”

Her initial interest in the law was sparked by her dual passion for music and justice. Having experienced the music industry as a background singer, she was troubled by the exploitation of artists and initially pursued law with the goal of becoming an entertainment lawyer. “With the hope of getting the best of both worlds as a lawyer and a musician, I chose to pursue a law degree to combine my love for music with legal empowerment… But evidently, God had other plans for me,” she said.

In her current academic role, Dr Maunatlala lectures Law of Succession (ERF 222) to undergraduate students and Aspects of the Law of Succession (ASC 801) to postgraduate students. Her LLD research focuses on reimagining the South African LLB curriculum to include living customary law as a core component.

“My study calls for an end to the marginalised status of customary law in South African higher education institutions,” she explained. “It advocates for its repositioning through a reimagined, decolonised legal curriculum that affirms indigenous worldviews, languages, and practices.”

Her research argues that teaching living customary law is critical to recognising the dignity and lived experiences of indigenous South Africans and contributes to the broader goal of knowledge production from an African perspective.

Dr Maunatlala’s academic journey has not been without challenges. Balancing her roles as a lecturer, wife, and mother, she navigated pregnancy and childbirth while completing her doctorate. “I became a mother to our daughter Bokang during the second year of my LLD and had to temporarily pause my studies to prioritise my physical and mental health. She became my reason for not giving up. Thereafter, I gave birth to our second daughter, Okgethegile, three days after submitting my final thesis amendments.”

She credits her husband for his unwavering support. “He cheered me on and held it down for our family throughout my entire journey,” she said.

Professionally, Dr Maunatlala views the LLD as the beginning of a broader mission. “I cannot wait to enter the doors that this key opens,” she said. Personally, the degree represents a story of resilience. “I hope my children will see that if their mom can do it, they too can.”

Looking ahead, she plans to give back to her community in Limpopo by collaborating with local traditional councils to educate residents about the law in practical terms. Academically, she aspires to become a full professor.

She hopes her academic journey will inspire students to engage critically with the law and see customary law as a foundational part of South Africa’s legal framework. “I hope students will be more enlightened about the importance of customary law being an independent source of South African law and realise they can contribute to global knowledge from an African perspective,” she said.

To students considering a career in law or postgraduate study, Dr Maunatlala’s message is clear: “It is okay not to have everything figured out. Let God be God and allow Him to map your path. You are never late to your own journey.”