There is a new ‘sheriff’ in Potchefstroom who is ready to make sure that justice is served.
Tshadi Leshomo was appointed as the new senior magistrate at the Potchefstroom magistrates court as of 1 May. Hailing from the village of Bodibe, Leshomo finished her law degree at the University of the North (now the University of Limpopo) in 1996. ‘I did my articles in Mahikeng before I got a job as a prosecutor in Itsoseng,’ she said. In 2003, she was offered a position as a magistrate in the small Free State town of Dewetsdorp where she remained until 2008.
‘I wanted to come back to the North West so I requested a transfer in 2008, after which they sent me to Wolmaransstad,’ she said. She remained there until her new appointment in Potchefstroom. This woman, who is meticulous in her approach to the law, believes in observing what works and what needs to be changed. ‘I am fortunate to have come to a place that was very well run, for a long time. I still want to speak to my predecessor to see what I can learn from him,’ she said.
Leshomo still presides over children’s court cases, mostly, because she believes she can never leave the courtroom. This sports fanatic with a particular love for chess has four children and is planning to stay in Potchefstroom for a long time.
‘It is one of the cleanest cities that I have seen and the friendliness of the good-natured people has been very obvious from the moment I came here,’ she said. And, as if her plate is not full enough, Leshomo belongs to the International Association of Women Judges and is also secretary of the provincial branch of the Judicial Officers’ Association of South Africa.
She recently got involved in a programme of the law clinic of the NWU to mentor final year law students and has started a reading programme for women who are serving time in prison.
Tshadi Leshomo is more than just a magistrate or law professional, she is embedded within the community that she serves.