FACE 2 FACE

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What does your job entail?

I have been doing administrative duties for Legal Aid SA for close to 20 years now.

What do you like about what you do?

I get to assist the most vulnerable people in our country, such as women, children and the rural poor.

What impact do you want to make?

Effectiveness and fairness in our justice system, our justice system is very complex, and we strive to provide justice for all in a just and fair manner.

What makes you proudly South African?

Wherever you go in South Africa, you are sure to encounter beautiful cultures and traditions, however complicated they may be, but that makes us who we are. We laugh together and cry together. We are also a giving nation that believes in the spirit of ubuntu.

What societal issue do you feel does not get enough attention?

Unemployment, inequality and poverty. The impact of high levels of unemployment is devastating, resulting in poverty, social exclusion, inequality, crime and social instability.

Who would you like to invite to your dinner table and why?

I would choose Albert Einstein, Nelson Mandela and Marie Curie. The topic of conversation would revolve around the pursuit of knowledge and the power of compassion.

What book are you reading or read recently and what did you take from it for yourself?

Devil’s Peak is a novel by Deon Meyer. It is a gruesome abuse case, where one man has taken it upon himself to stand up for children in Cape Town.

I believe with all my heart in the power of individual people to make the world a better place.

Where did you watch the rugby final and how do you feel about SA winning?

I watched it at home together with my family. SA winning is not for the glory, it’s for unity, love and acceptance of our rainbow nation, for peace and prosperity, and for a better future for our youth.

What did you want to be when you were young?

I wanted to become a teacher because I believe in the power of education to make our world a better place.

My parents did not have the money to further my studies, but I still ended up coaching and that in a way fulfilled my desire to teach.

What is an ideal holiday for you?

Cape Town or Hermanus – or anywhere near the beach where one can get some Vitamin D, exercise, meditate, unplug, and find your higher power.