Brigitte Mabandla Justice

Mainly due to the success of these programmes, the Department established a permanent training section in January 1957, headed by a chief and three lecturers. This section became known as Justice Training. It offered academic training aimed at achieving a minimum legal qualification and practical functional training for criminal court magistrates, prosecutors, interpreters, and staff of the Master of the Supreme Court. Timelines of the Development of Justice College The Department of Justice initiated an in-service training program aimed at attaining a minimum legal qualification and practical functional training for prosecutors at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court. The first official course for criminal court magistrates was presented at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court. Training programs for Court Interpreters were initiated. The first course for Zulu interpreters was held in Pietermaritzburg in April 1954. 1948: 1953: 1954:

1956:

Training programs for staff of the Master of the Supreme Court were initiated.

1957:

The Department established a permanent training section known as Justice Training, offering academic training and practical functional training for criminal court magistrates, prosecutors, interpreters, and staff of the Master of the Supreme Court.

1959:

Justice Training was led by Adv J C Ferreira.

1967:

The first training intervention for regional court magistrates was presented.

1979:

Dr N J van der Merwe became the head of Justice College until his retirement in 1995.

1981:

A seminar for civil court magistrates was introduced.

1989:

Justice Training was renamed Justice College.

1993: The Magistrates Act, 1993 came into operation, and the Magistrates Commission was established. Justice College was officially designated as the institution charged with the continuous training of judicial officers in the lower courts. 1995-1997: Mr J H Kok acted as head of Justice College. 1997-2005: Ms M C van Riet served as the head of Justice College. A separate directorate responsible for judicial training was created, accountable to the Magistrates Commission.

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Brigitte Mabandla | Justice College | Memoir