[1] Hefer was born in Brandfort, in the Free State and matriculated in 1949 in Bloemfontein.
He studied at the University of the Orange Free State and obtained his BA degree in 1953 and LLB in 1955.
[2] However, at the request of the Minister of Justice, Hefer was appointed as acting President of the Supreme Court of Appel from January 2002 to 31 December 2002.
[1] In 2003, Hefer was appointed by President Thabo Mbeki to chair the commission of inquiry into allegations of spying made against National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka.
[3] Hefer was awarded an honorary LLD from the University of the Free State.