Harshila Kooverjie. Picture: Supplied
ADVOCATE Harshila Kooverjie SC (nee Parbhoo), who grew up in Kimberley, has been appointed as a judge of the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria.
Kooverjie has been practising as an advocate since 1996, serves as a council member of the Legal Practice Council (LPC), is the chairperson of the Arbitration Foundation of SA - Pretoria Chapter, is a member of the Pan African Bar Association of South Africa, member of the South African Women Lawyer Association, served on the council of medical schemes and the SA Revenue Service tax board and chairperson of the transformation committee of the Pretoria Advocates society.
She also represented a high-ranking official who appeared before the Zondo Commission for the Estina/Vrede Dairy project.
She attended Beacon Primary School and matriculated from Florianville High School before attaining a BA (LLB) from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1993.
Kooverjie specialises in arbitration, the financial services industry sector law, alternate dispute resolution, medical schemes law, labour, tax, administrative and commercial law.
She believes that her upbringing in Kimberley contributed to her appointment.
“I would like to pay tribute to my late uncle Bhana Daya and uncle Dhiru Daya from Numain Cash and Carry, who brought my brother and I up as their own children after we were sent to attend school in Kimberley. It is a debt that I will never be able to fully repay. They taught me honour, humility and not to take anything for granted. My uncles are highly respected and from humble beginnings. I followed in their footsteps to serve the community,” said Kooverjie.
She added that her upbringing had prepared her for a daunting interview with the Judicial Services Commission.
“I hardly slept the night before the interview. It is gruelling because you have no idea what the panel will ask you. All candidates are put through an intense background screening. My strong values and sense of integrity, experience, extensive knowledge of the law and clean record put me in good stead to be nominated for this position.
“I have never lost my roots in Kimberley and visit my mother in the city whenever I have the opportunity.”
Kooverjie will take up her seat in the Gauteng Division of the High Court early next year.
“As a seasoned practitioner, I acted as a judge for eight years. I will take up the seat in one of the busiest divisions in the country from February 1, 2022. This will give me time to close my practice and finalise all outstanding cases.
“The court adjudicates on high-profile and high-end political cases where judgments come under close scrutiny and it is imperative to remain objective at all times.”
Kooverjie lives in Pretoria with her husband and two sons who are also studying law.