JUDICIAL OFFICERS ALLIANCE OF SOUTH AFRICA
THIRD EDITION • SPRING • 8 SEPTEMBER 2026
THE BENCH
A LEGAL NEWSLETTER OF THE JUDICIAL OFFICERS ALLIANCE OF SOUTH AFRICA
Missy with her Fairy Garden — the full picture, dog and all.
A spring greeting to every colleague on the roll
September in South Africa is not only a new month. It is the first honest light after winter. May this month be kind to the person who sits on your bench, and to the people who wait on the wooden ones outside.
Contents
Cover • The Bench • Spring Edition
Page 1
From the President’s desk — a spring note from Mr Karikan
Page 2
The animal on the blotter — welfare, case law and the lower court
Page 3
Protection orders — domestic violence and harassment
Page 4
The mind of the magistrate — wellness, work and the roll
Page 5
Indigenous succulents, nurseries and the environmental docket
Page 6
Colleague on the page — Adv Yolynn Denness, and what JASA is
Page 7
What the courts did • the spring cartoon
Page 8
The fun bench — quiz, write-in and a word hunt
Page 9
Find us • authorities • quiz answers
Page 10
Pages 11–14 From the district bench — Magistrate Scelo Zuma on Schedule 6 bail