Navi pillay biography channel

Navanethem (Navi) Pillay was born on 23 September 1941 in Clairwood, Durban, Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal). She attended the University of Natal (now University of KwaZulu-Natal - UKZN) where she graduated with BA in 1963 and then a LLB degree in 1965.

At University she joined the Non European Unity Movement (NEUM – now known as the New Unity Movement of South Africa). 

After completing her university degrees, Pillay commenced her legal career by doing her articles in Durban under the guidance of Narainsamy Thumbi Naicker, a banned member of the South African Indian Congress (SAIC) and the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) who was also under house arrest.

In 1967, Pillay became the first Black woman to open her own law practice in Natal.

She provided legal assistance for activists from different political organizations detained by the apartheid government.

In her first case, after starting her own legal practice, she represented Phyllis Naidoo who was cha