Jeanette Traverso

Jeanette Helena Margaretha Traverso (; born 28 May 1946) is a former judge of the High Court of South Africa. She is the second female appointed as a judge in South Africa and the first woman to be appointed as a Deputy Judge President of a Division of the High Court of South Africa.

Early life and education Traverso is the daughter of Barzillai (Blaar) Coetzee and Jacoba Rossouw (Twinkle) Coetzee (née Hanekom). Her father was a businessman, politician, the minister of Public Works and Community Development in the late 1960s and the South African Ambassador to Rome. Her mother, who was an actress, died shortly before Traverso's thirteenth birthday. Traverso matriculated in 1963 at Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool in Pretoria, whereafter she enrolled at the University of Stellenbosch, obtaining a BA degree in 1966 and a LLB in 1968.

Career Traverso was admitted as an advocate on 4 June 1969 and worked as a prosecutor in the Magistrate's Court for six months, after which she went to the Attorney - General's office until 1972. During 2014, she was the presiding judge in the trial of Shrien Dewani for the murder of his wife, Anni Dewani.

Other interests Traverso was a keen runner and completed the Comrades Marathon a number of times.