“Tempus tuum adest – Your time has arrived.”

This powerful Latin phrase is not just a motto for Tshegofatso Ramokopeloa, it is the guiding principle of her life and career.

Born and raised in the heart of Mabeskraal village, Tshegofatso proudly identifies herself as ngwanyana wa Motlhako, the only daughter in a family of six siblings. Today, she is the proud mother of two beautiful daughters, an accomplished attorney and a revered traditional healer. Her journey embodies the true spirit of Heritage Month: a celebration of identity, roots and purpose.

A journey rooted in purpose

In 2008, Tshegofatso embarked on her academic journey at the North-West University (NWU), enrolling in the Faculty of Law. Her dedication and resilience saw her graduate with an LLB degree in 2012. She immediately registered for her articles of clerkship at the NWU Community Law Centre, where she trained under Simon Rasikhalela from 2012 to 2014.

On 6 February 2015, she was officially admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa. Her journey with the NWU continued as she took up the role of subject specialist and mentor at the Community Law Centre, guiding final-year LLB students and candidate attorneys before they ventured into the private legal sector.

Today, she stands at the helm of Ramokopeloa Attorneys Inc, a thriving law firm based in Mmabatho, as its director. Her work is multifaceted – overseeing operations, mentoring young legal minds, offering legal representation and empowering clients through the justice system.

Where ancestral calling meets legal vocation

Yet Tshegofatso’s story does not end in the courtroom. Known in her spiritual practice as Mpilo Rakubu Lethabo, she also embraced the sacred calling of a traditional healer (sangoma). Balancing two vocations that many may view as opposing, she sees them instead as deeply complementary.

“My career and ancestral calling work hand in hand. I believe I have been called to lead, defend and heal,” she says.

After hours and on weekends, Tshegofatso consults with patients, offering not only spiritual guidance, but also applying cultural principles such as Botho in legal matters like family disputes. In these deeply human moments, she often finds herself blending her legal training with ancestral wisdom.

“Sometimes I find myself applying both law and culture unconsciously. It is not something I plan – it is how I have been called to serve.”

A daughter of the NWU and advocate for heritage

To Tshegofatso, the NWU is more than an alma mater. It is home.

“The university groomed me not only academically but also holistically. The appreciation of the NWU of culture and diversity helped shape who I am today. I would choose it over and over again,” she says with pride.

She commends the commitment of the NWU to inclusivity and for providing platforms such as the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Centre, which encourages traditional healers and cultural practitioners to engage in academic spaces.

“I encourage prospective students to choose the NWU not only as a centre of academic excellence but as a university that respects and celebrates cultural identity.”

Honouring heritage in September and beyond

As South Africa marks Heritage Month under the theme of celebrating cultural identity and shared values, Tshegofatso reminds us of the importance of honouring where we come from:

“September ke kgwedi ya ngwao boswa – a time to fully embrace the foundational elements of one’s culture: traditions, language, stories and songs that give us a sense of identity, pride and belonging.”

With poetic pride, she declares:

“Ke Motaung o Rampako, selala le Namane sakeng. Ke sebata se mariri, ke namane ya Tau! Heela motho wa be o dirileng diarora fa a rora jaana?”

The road ahead

Professionally, Tshegofatso dreams of establishing law offices across the country, with a special focus on empowering women in law in a field that is still largely male-dominated. Spiritually, she is dedicated to deepening her gift of healing, mentoring trainees and passing down ancestral wisdom.

Ultimately, she envisions herself on the bench of the Constitutional Court, advocating for justice and transformation at the highest level.

A living legacy

Through her story, Tshegofatso Ramokopeloa offers a powerful message to NWU students and alumni:

“Be unapologetically yourself. Embrace your roots and your calling whatever form it takes. Your time has arrived.”

Tshegofatso Ramokopeloa