NELSPRUIT – All he wanted to do was serve justice for the people. Local NGO’s are saddened by the news that an acting magistrate, Mr Roelf Smith has not had his contract renewed.
Smith who has been working in the sexual offences court and has had a lot of community support due to his fairness in handing out justice, told Lowvelder he had been working as an acting magistrate for eight years in the Lowveld.
He said his contract had not been renewed so January would be his last month at the Nelspruit magistrate courts.
On enquiry from Lowvelder into why his contract had not been renewed, the department of Justice and constitutional development, Mr Blendynn Williams stated that their department kept acting magistrates for only three months and there should be space for new people.
Smith, who holds four degrees in law, plus who is also a qualified advocate, said he had dedicated his life to serving the people and was saddened to now be forced to enter the private sector even though financially it would be a lot more profitable.
Child Welfare Operations Manager Mr Johan Bosch stated that as a child protection organisation, they were saddened by the fact that Smith would be leaving the bench at the end of January.
He said Smith had been involved in various cases with regards to child abuse and gender-based violence and his driving force was to help victims of and serve justice.
“Child abuse and sexual offences are rapidly increasing in South Africa and we need suitably qualified and competent magistrates to deal with such issues. We cannot allow the justice system to fail our children and victims of sexual abuse.
