When Kariega-born Rodwell Bacon had to drop out of university because of financial constraints, he never thought that he would be a magistrate one day.
The 34-year-old will start his new job in Boksburg on October 1.
Raised by his grandmother, Bacon, who comes from Gerald Smith, said it had not been easy to achieve his dreams.
“I studied at Nelson Mandela University in 2005, but I dropped out at the end of that year for financial reasons.
“I then returned to complete my studies in 2007 and finally completed my law degree in 2010.
“After completing my degree, I started doing my articles at Karsans Incorporated in Kariega in 2011.
“In 2012, I started as an aspirant prosecutor at the National Prosecuting Authority.”
Bacon said he was honoured to have been appointed as a magistrate.
“A certain number of years’ experience in the legal field is required and the applicant needs to be a fit and proper person to apply for the position of magistrate,” he said.
“Once you have been shortlisted for an interview, you need to prepare yourself for the interview on various aspects of the law.
“After the interview, the commission panel selects those [whose names] they will submit to the minister of justice for recommendation.
“Once the minister is satisfied with the recommendation, he will sign it.”
He said he did not have a specific person in the legal field he looked up to.
“I learn something from every case that I either do or listen to or read [about], every legal practitioner, every magistrate and the clerks.”
Bacon said the courts should at all times make their decisions without fear or favour.
If the courts were not able to do so, the community would lose faith in them.
“The consequences of failing to apply the law without fear or favour would have a devastating effect on the proper functioning of the courts and their impartiality.
“In acting in an unbiased manner, all people who come before our courts are assured that they are treated equally and that should, in turn, restore faith and confidence in our criminal justice system.”
He encouraged young people who wanted to pursue their dreams to do so without fear of failing, of opinion or of judgment.
“Do not expect others to believe in your dream or vision,” Bacon said.
“It is your dream or vision. Do not give up, irrespective of the hurdles or speed bumps.
“More specifically, if you want to pursue a legal career, ensure that you have a passion for the law.
“It will become very difficult if the law does not excite you.
“Be persistent, be dedicated, read, think critically, always think how to apply the law from different perspectives, be willing to learn every day, from everyone.
“Never give up.”
HeraldLIVE
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