UBrigitte Mabandla wazalwa zingama-23 kuLwezi ngo-1948. Maphakathi nawo-1970s wasebenza njengomxhumanisi wobusha e-Institute of Race Relations eThekwini kodwa washiya iNingizimu Afrika waya eZambia lapho athola khona iziqu zakhe zeLLB. Phakathi konyaka we-1981 nowe-1983 wafundisa isiNgisi noMthetho eBotswana polytechnic kanti kusukela ngo-1983 kuya ku-1986 wafundisa ngezoMthetho eBrazil Institute of Administration and Commerce. Kusukela ngo-1986 kuya ku-1990 wasebenza njengomeluleki wezomthetho eMnyangweni Wezindaba Zomthetho kanye Nezomthethosisekelo we-ANC. Ngalesi sikhathi wabhekisisa ngamalungelo ezingane, amalungelo abantu kanye nezomthethosisekelo Ngemuva kokungavunyelwa kwe-ANC nezinye izinhlangano zezepolitiki, ubuyela eNingizimu Afrika njengengxenye yeqembu le-ANC elixoxisana futhi njengamanje uyilungu leKhomishini Yomthethosisekelo yeqembu. Ungumsunguli weKomidi Likazwelonke Lamalungelo Ezingane futhi uhambe emhlabeni wonke ethuthukisa amalungelo ezingane. Ngo-1995 waba yiPhini likaNgqongqoshe Wezobuciko, Amasiko, Isayensi Nobuchwepheshe kwathi ngonyaka we-2003, waqokwa njengoNgqongqoshe Wezindlu. Ngaphambi kokuqokwa kwakhe njengoNgqongqoshe Wezamabhizinisi Kahulumeni, wasebenza njengePhini likaNgqongqoshe Wezobuciko, Amasiko, Isayensi Nobuchwepheshe kusuka ngomhlaka 18 Ephreli 1995 kuze kube ngumhla zingama-25 kuFebhuwari 2003;