Born in Namibia, raised in the Free State, educated in Gauteng and both feared and revered as a high court judge in Gqeberha, Irma Schoeman’s illustrious legal career has almost come to a close.
Schoeman, 70, who grew up in the Free State and studied law at the University of Pretoria, said when she started her legal journey in the 70s it had been difficult to find her feet because of the times.
“I was a junior lecturer at Unisa but wanted to do my articles. As a woman in the legal profession in Pretoria at the time it was very difficult,” Schoeman said.
The mother of three and grandmother to five said she had been told she would be more suitable to doing conveyancing at the time, but this did not deter her from reaching her goals to be in court.
“I had wanted to be a lawyer since I was a child,” she said.
Inspired by her father, Hector, who was an attorney, Schoeman said she had wanted to be actively involved in all types of law including but not limited to criminal law.
“You could defend someone with a passion because the whole system was against them, no matter who they were or where they came from.
“Everything changed when our constitution was developed,” Schoeman said.
After working as a professional assistant at a firm in Welkom and then as a partner at a firm in Virginia, Schoeman was admitted to the Free State Bar in 1990 and began practising in Bloemfontein.
By the end of her practising career the country’s new constitution was adopted and by 1997 she had been appointed as an acting judge.
Three years later she made the move to Mthatha before relocating to Gqeberha in 2010.
“My time in the Gqeberha high court has been really great. This court is extremely well run,” Schoeman said.
Officially retiring at the end of the month, Schoeman said over the years dealing with the cases before her had not affected her personally as she put the matters to bed once they were done.
“It’s a blessing when you have given judgment because you can then put the case behind you and forget about it,” she said.
Schoeman said she was looking forward to the change in her routine once she stepped down.
“I was filled with trepidation about retiring but when I asked my father (he died last year at the age of 94) what he thought, he said I must, and then travel,” she said.
Recently appointed as a board member of the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex, Schoeman said she looked forward to enjoying her other passions — theatre, art, music and sport.
“It is going to be very exciting and different. I love the theatre and art,” she said.
Last year Schoeman took up golf and enjoys watching rugby, tennis, cricket as well as golf.
She recently returned from a month-long camping trip in Namibia and said she planned to travel more in her spare time.
“I love Gqeberha and do not plan to leave here — it is one of SA’s best-kept secrets,” she said.
On Tuesday Schoeman presided over her final motion court matter, granting a provisional restraint order against those involved in the protracted Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) fraud and corruption saga.
At the time, senior state advocate Warren Myburgh told Schoeman it was a loss for the judicial system that she was retiring but thanked her for her stellar contribution and wished her well for the future.
HeraldLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.