I am a divorced mother of three minor children. I joined the Department of Justice on 15 April 1985 as a prosecutor. I was elevated to the bench as a magistrate with effect from 1 July 1993. On 01 May 2000 I was appointed as a senior magistrate. I am currently a Chief Magistrate at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court since 1 January 2004.

I joined JOASA in 1998. Due to my active participation in the organisation my leadership abilities were recognised and I was elected as the Western Cape’s secretary in 2001. In 2002 I was elected as that province’s chairperson and automatically a member of the National Executive Committee. In 2003 I was nominated and appointed as one of the assistant national secretaries. My hard work and dedication bore fruit when I was elected, in 2004, as the National Secretary. Likewise my commitment and loyalty was not overlooked when I was elected Vice President in 2005.

My rise in JOASA did not happen fortuitously. It is the product of hard work and dedication. At provincial level I was instrumental in the creation of a uniformed policy for the appointment of Acting Regional Magistrates. The provincial executive committee under my leadership arranged social context workshops in conjunction with the LRG to train and empower Magistrates. It was also during my tenure that a provincial audit on the safety and security of Magistrates was done. This audit led to security being beefed up at many offices in the Western Cape.

As the National Secretary I set up the first e-mail database of JOASA members. Communication between and correspondence to members increased during that period. I also acted as a liaison officer between ARMSA, JOASA and L.C.M.C inter se as well as between them and the I.R.C. and the Chief Justice.

My outspokenness in favour of the interest of Magistrates as well as my well known stance in favour of honesty and integrity, has to the chagrin of my detractors, led to me being popular. I am, because of those qualities, unpopular in certain circles. I have always believed that an uncontrolled diet of popularism leads to ventriloquism – an unfortunate but ever present human condition where the dummy seems to be speaking, whereas, in reality, it is the master’s voice. I prefer that the voice of truth, reason, honesty and fairness rather than the voice of dishonesty and connivance should be heard.

It is my considered view that the organization, at all levels, is not firing on all cylinders. Its engine and body needs a complete and urgent overhaul. Ironically this condition is caused by the fact that all magistrates now receive car allowances (the pun is deliberate). I, like most cynics, believe that the time has come for JOASA members to stop thinking about own gain but communal gain.

My vision, should I be elected President, is to critically evaluate and diligently implement JOASA’s objectives. The strategic planning committee should be harnessed to write and disseminate a thorough and complete vision and mission of JOASA. Members – office bearers and ordinary – should then actively be drawn in to participate fully in the activities of the organization. The standing committees – which are the engine of JOASA – should be encouraged to produce programmes and plans of the highest standard.

Magistrates – in rural and urban areas – should have a environment that is conducive to judicial work. Libraries must be resourced and JUTASTAT must be installed at all offices.

Training initiatives should be started in conjunction with other agencies and organizations. The good working relationship which we enjoy with ARMSA should be deepened when it comes to common issues like training, security and salaries.

All office bearers should be held accountable by the NEC as well as by the members. Members can only do so if they buy into and share the strategic vision of JOASA. Members should be involved in community outreach initiatives. The NEC together with outside agencies should assist financially in some of these initiatives.

I do not offer a panacea but I humbly request that we all work together to create a stronger and more coherent organization. The words of the country’s president should reverberate through this organization too, “THE NEXT PRESIDENT ( OF JOASA) SHOULD BE A WOMAN!!!”

J. F. Van Schalkwyk
President: JOASA