Onkabetse Thwala is a Senior Associate in our Corporate and Commercial Department. We asked Onka a few questions to get to know her a bit better:
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
As a university student, I worked for an events management company owned by a family friend over weekends (decorating venues and waitering etc).
HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU RECEIVED YOUR FIRST PAYCHECK AND HOW DID YOU SPEND IT?
I was 19 and, although I can’t quite recall exactly how I spent the paycheck, I’m pretty sure it must have been on new clothes.
WHAT WAS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED?
The best piece of advice I received as a young candidate attorney is that “You’re going to make mistakes and it is normal as you’re still learning. However, don’t make the same mistake twice!”. This has taught to me to be kind to myself when I make mistakes, while also being intentional to learn from those mistakes to ensure that I do not repeat them.
WHAT LED YOU TO BECOME A M&A LAWYER?
My love for M&A law naturally developed from the fact that I found a genuine interest in the Contract Law and Company Law modules in university, which also happened to be 2 of my distinction modules. Being an M&A Lawyer in a mining law firm has however proven to be the perfect combination of my interests seeing as, having grown up in the predominantly mining centered town of Rustenburg, I have always had a curiosity about the ins and outs of mining and I’m happy that I get to explore this interest as well.
FUN FACTS
– CURRENTLY READING: Atomic Habits by James Clear (please don’t ask me how long I’ve been reading it for).
– DOG OR CAT PERSON: Definitely a dog person, but I also like cats with dog personalities.
– ITEM TICKED OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST: Learned how to swim.
– ITEM NOT YET COMPLETED ON YOUR BUCKET LIST: Visiting Bali and riding the popular big swing over the rice terraces.
