Brigitte Mabandla Justice

Brigitte Mabandla | Justice College Memoir

The establishment of a new constitutional dispensation, initially by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act No 200 of 1993) and eventually by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 of 1996) and in particular the separation of powers and the resultant independence of the judiciary, implied a profound influence on the institutional approach towards the training of judicial officers. Although effect was given to the spirit and purport of these principles, the structure of the College remained unchanged. From 1 December 1995 to 30 April 1997, Mr JH Kok acted as head of Justice College.

Mr JH Kok, Acting Head of Justice College

Ms M C van Riet, Head Justice College

On 1 May 1997 to 2005 Ms MC van Riet was appointed as Chief Director, Justice College. Soon after Ms Van Riet’s appointment, de facto effect was given to the principle of independence of the judiciary by an institutional restructuring whereby a separate directorate responsible for judicial training was established. This directorate was accountable to the Magistrates Commission and received direction from it in terms of policy and training content. Mrs Cecilia was tasked with driving and managing the process of rationalisation and, transformation at Justice College in line with the Department’s Vision and Mission as set out in the Justice Vision 2000. ‘A well-qualified judiciary is identified as being a high priority in terms of that document and this is in line with the Canada-South Africa Linkage Project which will be based at Justice College’.

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Brigitte Mabandla | Justice College | Memoir