The Advocate that fights in a dress talks femininity and success

MBOMBELA – A woman who has overcome her fears is a powerful force. Specialist state prosecutor Ms Ansie Venter is such a woman.

She fights crime fearlessly in her daily pursuit of justice and was recently honoured with a Rhino Conservation Award for her role in the war against poaching. Ansie’s life and career celebrates womanhood in a fierce and strong way. She completely embodies the expression “you strike a woman, you strike a rock”.

Ansie’s career as a state prosecutor had its origin in her childhood dream of joining the South African Police Service (SAPS). “The principles of right and wrong were instilled in me by both my parents. It has always been my compass and my career choice was a natural step. Although I wanted to end up in the police, I started out by completing my law degree at the University of Pretoria.”

On February 1, 1986, Ansie was employed as a district court prosecutor at the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court. She was promoted to regional court prosecutor and a promotion to the position of senior prosecutor in the province soon followed. But Ansie had bigger dreams – dreams of a position that required years of hard work and the dedication that she has become known for.

Ansie was employed as the province’s first specialist state prosecutor 12 years later and exchanged her office at the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court for a desk in the offices of the police’s organised crime unit. In this capacity she was solely responsible for prosecuting high-profile court cases where alleged criminals were charged with a vast spectrum of crimes ranging from murder to poaching.

“The most widely published cases that I deal with, are those of rhino poachers. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. The organised crime unit investigates many different crimes all over the province.” Ansie has had to criss-cross the province while prosecuting accused in various courts. “My job includes a lot of travelling. I average about 4 000 kilometres every month.

Her career requires many sacrifices. Apart from travelling long distances and working hours that exceed a nine-to-five workday, the unpredictability of this job also influences one’s life to a great extent.

“You might have your week planned in your head, but then crime-fighting happens. If a suspect gets arrested he needs to appear in court within 48 hours. This court appearance then becomes a priority and your day needs to be reshuffled. Then there are bail applications mid-trial that need to be squeezed into a jam-packed day.”

Apart from these urgent court appearances that pop up regularly, the day-to-day prosecution still needs to continue and Ansie also assists the police with various other legal issues. “The only certain thing in my workday is this – there is no certainty.”

This impacts on her life in various ways. Apart from dealing with the gloom and doom of crime every day, the urgent nature and importance of her job makes socialising and maintaining a healthy family life, difficult. Her cases can be filled with brutal and hard-hitting realities at times, which require a lot of emotional resilience and a strong character.

Female prosecutors are tempted to react to this by becoming hard and suppressing their emotions and femininity. Yet Ansie manages to be a hundred per cent woman in heart and soul, while doing her job brilliantly.

“I am a woman who is also a prosecutor, not the other way around.” Ansie has a special quirk that reflects her feminine heart. She always wears dresses, and not trousers, when she goes to court. “It is important for women to remain women when they enter a so-called man’s world.

Cherishing her femininity is one of a few principles that Ansie lives by. She is also a very humble woman. “You must never forget where you came from,” she said. “I was raised in Hendrina and I am still very proud of my roots. Many people think that you have to come from a high place to reach the top. That is not true. In fact, it is often those who stay grounded and cherish their humble beginnings who are suscessful. In my heart, I am still the same Ansie that walked into the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court 29 years ago.”

Another principle that Ansie considers very important, is that of being self-reliant. “Today’s woman needs to be able to stand on her own two feet. When raising me, my parents did me a big favour – they ensured me of their unconditional love and support, but made sure that I was able to get by on my own. The daughters of this milenium need the skill of self-reliance.” Although it may be instinctive to wrap your daughters up in proverbial cotton wool while raising them, Ansie says that society and parents must remember that responsibility must be learnt as well. “This is done by instilling a strong value system in your children, allowing them to develop the skills they will need to function on their own one day.”

According to Ansie, victory over one’s fears is paramount. The paralysing effects that fear can have on your life, was experienced by Ansie first hand after she was the victim of a housebreak and assault a few years ago. “I was asleep in my bed when a torchlight flashing in my eyes awoke me. “Mrs Venter, we are here to get you,” a man’s voice warned. He assaulted Ansie to such an extent that her nose was broken and she was covered in bruises. Nobody was ever arrested in connection with the crime. Ansie describes the fear that took holf of her that night as “a deadly, hellish fear.” However, she realised that a victim mentality would not get her anywhere. “I made a decision to put the incident behind me and I have since overcome my fear.”

Another thought that keeps Ansie motivated, is the knowledge that each victory in the name of justice, changes someone’s life, somewhere. “There was a time where I felt demotivated. With all of the crime happening around us, I felt as if my contribution would never be able to make a difference. The problem was just too big. Then a wonderful truth changed my view: although I can’t change the bigger picture, my change to someone’s smaller picture makes a difference to him or her. And if all of us continue to do what we can to change peoples’ small pictures, the bigger picture will improve.”

With this mindset, Ansie continues to fight for justice every day. Over the last 29 years, she has had an impact on the lives of many. Ansie attributes her successes to God and those who fight alongside her in the war on crime in Mpumalanga. Ansie’s faith and the support system that she has in her friends, family and crime-fighting colleagues have supported her throughout the years. “There is no such thing as ‘I,” she says. “It’s the ‘we’ that has made our successes possible.”