Violet Semenya

Matsaro Violet Semenya (born 17 October 1961) is a South African judge who has been Deputy Judge President of the Limpopo High Court since July 2021. She was appointed that court as a puisne judge in January 2017. Before joining the judiciary, she was a magistrate in Limpopo between 1991 and 2017.

Early life and education Semenya was born on 17 October 1961 in KwaThema, a township outside Springs in the former Transvaal. She grew up in Mahwelereng, matriculating at Gojela High School in 1979. and she took office as a judge on 30 January 2017.

In 2019, Semenya heard a traditional leadership dispute between the Thobejane family and the Limpopo Premier, which she dismissed after reversing herself on a point of non-joinder which she had formerly denied. The following year, the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld a decision against her judgement in Thobejane and Others v Premier of the Limpopo Province and Another, and the appellate judgment was highly critical of Semenya's handling of the matter. Following interviews in April, the Judicial Service Commission recommended Semenya for the post, and President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed her appointment with effect from 1 July 2021.

Personal life She has three adult children and is Christian.