Senior director and lead attorney at C S Zondi and Associates Inc. Mr Sandile Zondi added a Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Investigation and Criminal Justice (FICJ) to his legal qualifications when he graduated at UKZN in May.
Zondi, who was born in KwaSonkombo in Ndwedwe, KwaZulu-Natal, has a Bachelor of Laws from UKZN and is an admitted attorney of the High Court and a qualified business rescue practitioner and mediator. He passed the Postgraduate Diploma in FICJ with distinction!
Having run his legal practice for 11 years, Zondi decided it was time to grow his business. He said: ‘My new qualification as a forensic investigator will allow the company to expand its footprint into new territory, thus expanding our service portfolio and creating opportunities for the young legal minds under my guidance to gain exposure in another area of the law.’ He added that his vision is for his practice to cater for all the legal needs of its clients.
At the young age of 34 Zondi has also been appointed as an acting magistrate. ‘I’ve always wanted to go to the bar, so when the opportunity presented itself I applied. This is a step in the right direction to one day fulfil my dream of becoming a judge,’ he said.
Given South Africa’s high unemployment rate Zondi is proud to have created 20 jobs in the Durban and Pietermaritzburg branches of CS Zondi and Associates Inc. that specialises in civil, corporate and commercial matters with a focus on labour, insolvency, forensics and business rescue.
He knew from a young age that he wanted to help others and the legal profession and entrepreneurship were obvious choices. Grateful to those who went before him in the legal fraternity, he said: ‘After obtaining my LLB degree I was exposed to colleagues who operated their own firms. I knew that this is what I wanted to do and more. I had a vision and I knew I had to make it happen.’
Acting Dean of the UKZN School of Law, Mr Adrian Bellengere wished Zondi all the best in his legal practice and his new role of acting magistrate.
Words: Hazel Langa
Photograph: Abhi Indarajan
