Supreme Court judge visits NC school
NORTHERN Cape Agricultural High School hosted Justice Baratang Constance Mocumie, who is a judge at the Supreme Court Of Appeal, for a breakfast, to inform the community and youths about opportunities in the judiciary.
Legal practitioners, magistrates and private attorneys from Warrenton, Jan Kempdorp, Pampierstad and Hartswater, as well as from Legal Aid South Africa, also attended the event last week.
Justice Mocumie said the first woman judge in South Africa was Judge Leonara van Heerden, who originated from Kimberley and practised as an advocate at the Free State Bar.
She also pointed out that several judges occupying high-ranking positions in the justice system were from the Northern Cape including Justice Mokgoro from Barkly West, who was one of the first woman judges to be appointed to the Constitutional Court.
“We are all from small towns in a vast province. We have done our best to serve our Province and country well,” said Justice Mocumie.
“Justice Steven Madjiet, who hails from Kenhardt, is also a judge at the Constitutional Court. Judge Sharon Chesiwe from Kimberley is an acting judge at the Office of the Chief Justice in the Free State High Court and Judge Nxumalo, who is also from Kimberley, is a judge at the Northern Cape High Court. Our local magistrate, Mr Morolong, was born in Warrenton and returned to serve the community that raised him.”
She commended justice officials from the Province who gave back to their communities and helped uplift local communities.
“We come home to try and set an example to young people that they too can make it if they dedicate their time and energy on achieving what they aspire to.
“We come back home to ground ourselves and remember where we come from.”
Justice Mocumie added that local magistrates had offered to educate youths about the justice system.
“We encourage young people to be humble, respect their parents, especially single parents who manage to offer them an education. Youths should not disrespect or look down upon their parents as domestic workers. They should not envy the big cars they see judges and magistrates driving as they do not how hard they worked to be where they are. They should rather aspire to achieve what they want through commitment to their studies and hard work.”
