Nambitha Dambuza

Nambitha Dambuza (born 31 October 1964) is a South African judge of the Constitutional Court. A former attorney, she sat in the Eastern Cape High Court from 2005 to 2015, and in the Supreme Court of Appeal from 2015 until her appointment to the Constitutional Court in May 2026.

Early life and career Born on 31 October 1964 in King Williams Town, Dambuza matriculated at St John's College in Mthatha in the former Cape Province. She read law at the University of Natal, where she completed a BProc and an LLB in 1987 and 1989 respectively, and completed her articles at Nzimande and Mbuli, a law firm in Durban. Dambuza was appointed as an acting judge in the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa. After two years in an acting capacity, she was permanently appointed to the bench, where she served until 2015. In November 2013, when Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng took long leave, Dambuza was appointed as an acting justice of the Constitutional Court. She held that position into 2014 She was later an acting judge in the Supreme Court of Appeal from 2014 to 2015.

Supreme Court of Appeal: 2015–2026 While sitting in the Supreme Court of Appeal, Dambuza was appointed to chair an inquiry into the conduct of Western Cape High Court judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe, following a complaint by Patricia Goliath against Salie-Hlophe and her husband, John Hlophe. Dambuza's inquiry did not find clear evidence of misconduct but recommended further investigation into an altercation at Hlophe's home, which Dambuza said "appears to be at the centre of the total collapse of the relationship" between Hlophe and Goliath.

In early 2020, Dambuza was shortlisted for appointment to the Constitutional Court, but the appointments were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the process reopened the following year, Dambuza withdrew her candidature. She was acting Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal between 1 September 2022 and 1 June 2023, while Deputy President Xola Petse acted in the place of former President Mandisa Maya.

Constitutional Court: 2026–present In October 2025 Dambuza was again interviewed by the JSC for an appointment to the Constitutional Court, and her name was one of five forwarded to President Cyril Ramaphosa to fill two vacancies on the Court. On 10 April 2026, Ramaphosa announced that Dambuza and Kate Savage would be appointed to the court with effect from 1 May 2026.

Academic appointments Dambuza has lectured in law at several institutions, including the University of Fort Hare, She is also a former chair of the council of Walter Sisulu University.

Personal life Dambuza is a single mother to two daughters.