FOURTH EDITION · 13 SEPTEMBER 2026
The Bench.
The people.
The purpose.
A legal newsletter of the Judicial Officers Alliance of South Africa.
Authority stems from action.
President’s letterFrom the President’s desk↗
Practice & procedureThe report that cannot speak↗
Children & familiesThe smallest party before the court↗
Practice & procedureJudgment in the absence↗
Life on the benchThe passage, the senior, and the door↗
Life on the benchColleague on the page — the acting magistrate↗
Life on the benchWhat waits at the gate↗
Law reportsWhat the courts did • the late-spring cartoon↗The fun benchThe fun bench — quiz, write-in and a word hunt↗
Access to justiceThe person who arrived without a lawyer↗Access to justiceLanguage, the interpreter and a fair hearing↗
Children & familiesA letter a child can keep↗
Practice & procedureReasons that travel↗Access to justiceWhen the lights go — the electronic roll↗
Guest practice noteCybercrime in retail banking↗
Life on the benchThe Bench and the Touchline↗Directory & authoritiesFind us — official card details↗
Mr Neelan Karikan, Founder & President of JASA — at the Port Elizabeth Magistrates’ Courts.FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
A life already
lived on the roll.
“An interview is a conversation about a life already lived on the roll, not a trial in which you must prove that you exist.”
Neelan Karikan
Founder & President, Judicial Officers Alliance of South Africa
LATE SPRING · FOURTH EDITION
On the record.
Beyond the courtroom.
Practice, people and perspective.
The complete September edition.
17 articles and features
02President’s letter
From the President’s desk
2 min read
03Practice & procedure
The report that cannot speak
2 min read
04Children & families
The smallest party before the court
2 min read
Practice & procedure
Judgment in the absence
2 min read
06Life on the bench
The passage, the senior, and the door
2 min read
07Life on the bench
Colleague on the page — the acting magistrate
2 min read
08Life on the bench
What waits at the gate
3 min read
09Law reports
What the courts did • the late-spring cartoon
2 min read
The fun bench
The fun bench — quiz, write-in and a word hunt
2 min read
11Access to justice
The person who arrived without a lawyer
2 min read
Access to justice
Language, the interpreter and a fair hearing
2 min read
13Children & families
A letter a child can keep
2 min read
14Practice & procedure
Reasons that travel
2 min read
Access to justice
When the lights go — the electronic roll
2 min read
16Guest practice note
Cybercrime in retail banking
5 min read
17Life on the bench
The Bench and the Touchline
5 min read
Directory & authorities
Find us — official card details
2 min read
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Contents
- Page 1 Cover • The Bench • Fourth Edition
- Page 2 From the President's desk — confidence for the shortlist
- Page 3 The report that cannot speak — forensics on the blotter
- Page 4 The smallest party — children, adoption and the children's court
- Page 5 Judgment in the absence — default, rescission and the civil roll
- Page 6 The passage and the door — seniors, security and wellness
- Page 7 Colleague on the page — acting magistrate • Milo
- Page 8 What waits at the gate — pets, the roll, and coming home
- Page 9 What the courts did • the late-spring cartoon
- Page 10 The fun bench — quiz, write-in and a word hunt
- Page 11 The person who arrived without a lawyer
- Page 12 Language, the interpreter and a fair hearing
- Page 13 A letter a child can keep
- Page 14 Reasons that travel
- Page 15 When the lights go — the electronic roll
- Page 16 Cybercrime in retail banking — guest practice note
- Page 17 The bench and the touchline — community football
- Page 18 Find us • authorities • quiz answers