Lwando Xaso

An acclaimed lawyer and expert on the Constitutional Court and Constitution Hill.

Lwando Xaso shares the history of these globally extolled elements of South Africa’s history in a way that inspires, informs and amazes all her hear her speak – from wherever they hail. A recent group of directors from a global, South African-originated food brand, described it as “one the most uplifting presentations they had EVER heard.”  PLUS we can arrange for the presentation to be held at Constitution Hill.

Lwando said, when asked to update her biography – “I have always thought that biographies were for people who would go down in the history books, but the one thing I want people to know about me is that Skumbuzo Xaso was my grandfather. He was a messenger at a law firm. But more importantly, he is a man of integrity with a strong sense of right and wrong but who, because of the colour of his skin and background, was denied the opportunities that I have today. Without my grandfather and many people like him whose dreams were deferred – so that mine could flourish – I can only honour them by centralising South African history in our lives. My passion is about sharing the history of the Constitution and Constitution Hill as these are our most precious exports to the world. I am student of change and I have reverence for our changemakers who I consider constitutional innovators.”

Lwando Xaso obtained her law degree from the University of Johannesburg South Africa. She started her articles and practised at Norton Rose Fulbright until 2009. She then pursued a Masters in constitutional and administrative law at the University of Cape Town where she also worked as a researcher.

In 2011 she had the privilege of clerking at the Constitutional Court for Justice Edwin Cameron.

In 2012 she was awarded the Franklin Thomas Fellowship by the Constitutional Court Trust to study at the University of Notre Dame where, in 2013 she received an LLM in international law graduating Magna cum Laude.

She contributed to the book ‘One Law One Nation’, a book on the history of the South African Constitution. She also frequently writes on topics of constitutional and international law for the Daily Maverick, the Business Day and various other publications.

In 2013 she worked as a senior researcher for the Public Service Remuneration Review Commission tasked with the transformation of the public service and was also a researcher to former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo. Currently she works for the Constitution Hill Trust as a projector implementer focusing primarily on projects such as the Museum of the Constitution which is under development. She is also a trustee of the Constitutional Court Trust and the convener of Including Society – a forum established to explore issues around inclusion in the private sector. You can follow Including Society on Instagram at @Including_Society-  on Facebook at www.facebook.com/includingsociety and on twitter at @Including_Inc