ANNOUNCING THE FRANKLIN THOMAS FELLOW FOR 2025 - 2026, ZOLILE SHUDE

Zolile Shude has been awarded the Thomas Franklin Fellowship for 2025-2026. Currently, he works as a law clerk at the Constitutional Court of South Africa in the chambers of Justice Theron. 

After completing his LLB at the University of KwaZulu Natal in 2020, Zolile worked as a litigation consultant supporting client communities in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, assisting in legal battles against mining and imposed development projects such as the proposed N2 toll road at Xolobeni. During this time, Zolile honed his skills in legal research, litigation support, and constitutional analysis, while gaining a nuanced understanding of the intersection between legal issues, social challenges, and human rights. He then joined the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) as a Candidate Legal Practitioner. There, he deepened his understanding of how socio-economic rights serve as both a shield against poverty and a tool to challenge systemic inequality. His work sharpened his litigation and advocacy skills while reaffirming his commitment to advancing the transformative agenda of South Africa’s Constitution.

Zolile describes what he hopes to achieve through the fellowship:

I am deeply honored to have been awarded the Franklin Thomas Fellowship, a privilege that fuels my commitment to continue lawyering for liberation and advancing the cause of justice and equality. This LLM is not just about me but about what I can bring back and contribute to my country and its legal system. My education abroad will help me grow as a well-rounded lawyer and allow me to influence the transformation of both the legal profession and society at large.