Vincent Saldanha

Vincent Saldanha "matriculated from St Barnabas College in Johannesburg. Afterwards he studied for his BA (Law) at the University of Durban-Westville and completed an LLB at the University of Cape Town in 1982. Vincent Saldanha completed his Articles of Clerkship at the firm of Mtjila & Mokgoatlheng in Johannesburg and was admitted as an attorney in 1985.

"Among his early professional assistantships was his attachment to E.Daniels & Company - whose senior partner, Enver Daniels has since served as special advisor to the Minister of Justice and is the present Chief State Law Advisor. Saldanha has been a key figure in the transformation processes of both NADEL (the National Association of Democratic Lawyers) and the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA). He served as the Western Cape's Secretary, Vice-Chairman, and continues his service to NADEL as its National Secretary.

"Vincent has served on several Boards, e.g. the SADC Legal Association, and represented the LRC on the External Advisory Committee on Civic Engagement, Empowerment & Respect for Diversity (CEERD) of the World Bank.

"Vincent is renowned for having represented a number of detainees and accused who were held under apartheid security laws for serving on the Presidential Commission of Enquiry into the border disputes between Taung, Kuruman and Kudumane and assisting the Goldstone Commission of Inquiry in investigating certain matters pertaining to the Truth & Reconcilliation Commission. He was a member of the NGO Task team on the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. He was actively engaged in the drafting of the Legal Practice Bill as a member of NADEL and the LSSA; and was even a Member of an Ad Hoc Advisory Committee (for a transport plan) that formed part of the 2004 Olympic Games Bid."


 * Former DIrector, Legal Resources Centre