Building Bridges: Empowering Women for Stronger Communities

Ayanda Moremoholo, the accomplished servant of the legal fraternity.

The 37-years old mother of three describes herself as a God-fearing loving wife. Ayanda was born and raised in Bloemfontein in the Free State province.

For Ayanda these are very personal fields of law that require a high level of personal interaction and a level of compassion from the legal practitioner dealing with a client's matter.

Journey into legal practice

Ayanda was admitted as an attorney of the high court in 2014 and went into private practice in 2015 at the age of 28.

But before that she studied a Bachelor of Law at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Qgeberha and also holds a Bachelor of Technology in Project Management from the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein.

She started her legal career at Matlho Attorneys and went on to serve her articles of clerkship at Majola Attorneys under the mentorship of Ntsikelelo Majola who she reminisces fondly called her his 'protégé'.

After her brief consulting role at the Human Rights Commission, she wasted no time and quickly established AP Belot Attorneys in May 2015.

This fast-growing legal firm has made significant contributions to job creation in the province since its establishment.

"Specializing in various areas of law, including family law, property law, deceased estates, civil litigation, and labour law, the firm is effectively meeting the legal needs of its clients and making a positive impact on the local economy by creating employment opportunities.”

For Ayanda these are very personal fields of law that require a high level of personal interaction and a level of compassion from the legal practitioner dealing with a client's matter.

“My company is a versatile and diverse legal firm that offers more than just legal advice, but rather creates a legal hub or home for those who come in and goes beyond the scope of law but seek to assist the client holistically.”

Social service through her work

The accomplished attorney serves in the disciplinary and mediation committee of the Legal Practice Council, she is the regulator for legal practitioners, an examiner for the competency examinations of Candidate Legal Practitioner and forms part of the task team in the Development of an Attorneys association in the Free State and I have been elected as a Deputy Chairperson in the Minister of Justice's Advisory Committee for Sheriffs.

Amongst her many roles she is also the chairperson for South African Women Lawyers Association in the Free State.” In addition to being a founder of a legal firm, Ayanda is a catalyst for positive change through her social club, Society Women on the Move.

This club aims to inspire various groups of individuals through small community projects that have the potential to make a meaningful difference in their lives. Ayanda's leadership and dedication are evident in her commitment to empowering others and fostering positive change at a grassroots level.

Sound advice

“Get a good mentor to help you grow your skillset and knowledge base. Have a plan and the resources you need before starting and be mentally prepared for your new endeavour.”

Learning the entrepreneurship ropes through network marketing

Ayanda decided to join the perfume network marketing company INUKA after starting her articles. This allowed her to explore her entrepreneurial spirit and generate additional income. Because empowering women and building stronger communities is a priority this business also made that possible.

Through selling perfumes, she began to develop her passion for entrepreneurship, opening up opportunities for personal and professional growth. She gained a number of skills including marketing, team building, leadership and amongst many she learned to run a profitable enterprise.

Entrepreneurship is in her blood as she comes from a family with parents who were very business minded and even sold soft goods as children. “I cannot fail to mention the push due to the terrible pandemic of unemployment in our country as another driver that directly influenced my journey, as much as it was a choice it was also an option out of none.”