About Matodzi
"I'm a Candidate Attorney at Malahlela & Company Attorney Inc.
I am a Univen (University of Venda) alumnus and completed my LLB in 2024 (conferred in 2025). During the course of my degree, I developed an interest in tax law, wanting to understand the laws regulating tax and their application in practice. This is what is currently motivating me to pursue my LLM in Tax Law. I further honed my research skills, which I showcased in my research project titled Critical Analysis of the Witchcraft Suppression Act: Application of the Principle of Legality. Although I had to put my Master's journey on hold due to articles, I still have curiosity about Acts and thus will continue on this path."
On enrolling at the Gawie le Roux Institute of Law
"Gawie le Roux’s reputation speaks volumes for itself; choosing which law school to go to became easier. I asked around, and everyone spoke highly of this Institution, so it had to be this one.
The lecturers were friendly and helpful. They were very professional in that they knew what they were doing. If I can remember things taught in class even today without trying that hard, it means they have a good way of explaining things."
400-hour vs 150-hour PVT programme of structured course work
"I wanted to get intensive training and knowledge, which I absolutely did. My achievement in the board exams is proof of this. Another reason might be that I did not have articles at that time, and when I went to Gawie le Roux’s website, they provided insight into the two programmes, how they differ, and how they will affect my articles. I wanted to cut the two-year journey short, and the 400-hour programme potentially has that effect."
Matodzi's tips for PVT students
- "This programme is exciting and hard. You need to give it your best. Meet the lecturers halfway. Some modules might be confusing, so read beforehand. Read, read, read, and read!
- The first lecture will definitely be fun. You'll be meeting new people and learning new things. Dr. Adriette Dekker will carry you through with her funny jokes between lectures; you will have the urge to study and learn. I’ll advise you to keep it until the very last day.
- Don’t fall behind. It’s easy for you to lose track and miss an assessment, so don’t delay attending classes. You will feel burnout, stress, anxiety, and might even feel depressed at times. I did say it’s an exciting and hard journey!
- The last exciting part of the journey will be Mr. Johan van Stade’s jokes. He will be teaching a very hard-to-understand module. If you don’t work with him and give it your best, you might find it very difficult, and this will affect your performance in Paper 4 of the board exams.
- Remember that you are here to learn and build a strong foundation for your legal career. Do it brick by brick. The lectures give you the material; the building part is all up to you."
Top tips to pass the competency-based exams
- "Read like your life depends on it because at this point, the exams actually do depend on it. Don’t procrastinate and don’t slack.
- This is not a one-man job. Engage with your peers and learn from them. In my home language, they say 'Ahuna asadivhi, Ahuna anodivha zwothe, Ndi u to ita mutingati,' translated: 'There’s no person who doesn’t know anything, and there’s no one who knows it all; it’s all about working together.' Learn from others as much as you can.
- Pick what you think is the right horse for you and bet on it. Use one set of materials. Authors differ, and the way they explain things is different. Too much information can be confusing, and the materials can do you more harm than good. Avoid buying notes from everyone; anyone can type."
On facing challenges
"I am and have always been a shy person who lacks confidence in speaking, but the Civil Procedure class required me to speak up and participate.
A little trick a friend told me about helped. I treated everything like a game. So, when we were taken to the breakout rooms to either discuss or conduct an interview or moot, I told myself, 'Matodzi, this is just a game.' This made me calm and confident. I tried my best in all the assessments. I didn’t allow my lack of confidence to limit me from being able to learn."
What's next?
"I’m not made for the corridors of court; thus, I’m currently studying for the RE1 exam while learning programming, and I’m seeking to gain skills in a legal and compliance leadership environment within the tech/cloud sector. I’m also working on my research proposal for my Master’s application.
I believe I will thrive in academia, thus I intend on furthering my studies so I can break into that field."
Last updated on 20 May 2026.