Sarah-Jane Trent’s professional history includes legal and fraud-examination work with Paul O’Sullivan and Forensics for Justice in South Africa. She appeared before a parliamentary ad hoc committee on 5 March 2026.
Sarah Jane Trent at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name used in official records | Sarah-Jane Trent |
| Education | LLB, University of South Africa, May 2013 |
| Professional background | Legal and fraud-examination work |
| Business | SJ Trent (Pty) Ltd, according to her March 2026 testimony |
| Parliamentary appearance | 5 March 2026, before the committee investigating Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations |
Education: Unisa confirms her LLB
On 9 March 2026, the University of South Africa confirmed that Trent is a graduate of the institution and obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree in May 2013. The university also rejected a statement circulating online that falsely presented itself as an institutional announcement denying her qualification. Source: Unisa’s official confirmation, 9 March 2026 (PDF).
Work with Paul O’Sullivan and Forensics for Justice
Trent told Parliament she began assisting O’Sullivan’s pro bono work in February 2015 and formally joined Paul O’Sullivan and Associates on 1 May 2015. She recalled research and document preparation among her early tasks. Source: hearing transcript reproduced by Forensics for Justice.
A Forensics for Justice report dated 12 December 2018 identifies Trent as its drafter and lists her as executive director, with an LLB qualification. O’Sullivan is listed separately as the report’s approver and the organisation’s founder. This is a dated record of her professional role; the report’s allegations are not treated here as established findings. Source: published report, page 13 (PDF).
SJ Trent and her professional standing
Trent told the committee she was sole director of SJ Trent (Pty) Ltd, which she had started on 10 May 2023. She described reviewing suspected fraud, theft and information relevant to potential litigation.
In March 2026, she described herself as an attorney on the non-practising roll and a certified fraud examiner in good standing. This records her statement at that time; current registration has not been independently verified. Source: Trent’s account of her business and professional standing in the hearing transcript.
Her March 2026 parliamentary appearance
Parliament’s notice scheduled O’Sullivan and Trent to give evidence on 5 March 2026 before the Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. This identifies the forum and date behind the broad references to “Parliament” in coverage of her career. Source: Parliament’s notice, 4 March 2026.
Parliament’s subsequent account confirms that the committee heard her evidence. It records her description of desktop research, preparing file notes and reviewing media or social-media material. The hearing formed part of Parliament’s inquiry into allegations concerning the criminal justice system. Source: Parliament’s hearing report, 9 March 2026.
Career timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| May 2013 | Obtained her Unisa LLB. |
| 2015 | Began assisting O’Sullivan and subsequently joined his firm. |
| December 2018 | Named as executive director on a Forensics for Justice report. |
| May 2023 | Started her own business, according to her testimony. |
| March 2026 | Appeared before Parliament’s ad hoc committee; Unisa separately confirmed her degree. |
Age, family and net worth
The sources used for this profile do not establish a verified date of birth or personal net-worth figure. They also do not provide a reliable basis for a detailed account of her childhood or family background. Her age, relatives, relationships and wealth should not be inferred from her occupation or years of experience.
Correction and review, 1 November 2026: This article replaces unsupported age and net-worth estimates and speculative personal history with a sourced professional biography. Professional-status statements are attributed to the date on which they were made.
