Umbango River Conservancy to meet in Albersville

Former magistrate, Johann Bester, will be the guest speaker at Umbango River Conservancy‘s 13th AGM at Gate Ministries (old Casa Hall) in Albersville on November 15 at 14:00.

The conservancy was established for environmental preservation. Under its custodianship is a vast, demarcated area from the south bank of the Mzimkhulu River to the north bank of the Mbango River. The conservancy works tirelessly with municipalities and community members to ensure that preservation continues.

Bester joined the Department of Justice in Pietermaritzburg in 1973 and commenced his professional career as a prosecutor in Dannhauser in 1975. His professional qualifications are B.luris, B.Proc and LLB degrees.

He was appointed as a magistrate at Camperdown in 1977and spanned his career within the department. In 1988, he was appointed as the chief magistrate of Kokstad and thereafter, in November 1990, he became the chief magistrate of Port Shepstone. Apart from serving as the commissioner of Child Welfare for the district, he was responsible for six district court magistrates, nine prosecutors and an administrative staff of 45. During his tenure as chief magistrate he wrote the attorneys’ admission examination and was appointed as an attorney of the High Court in 1995.

Bester also has a history of community work. He was involved in establishing Port Shepstone’s first place of safety for children, supported various welfare organisations and was a member of the Port Shepstone Rotary Club.

Bester is one of the directors of the Mbango Valley Association, a non-profit company, and together with members of the Umbango River Conservancy, hold monthly meetings with Ugu District Municipality and the Departments of Water and Sanitation and Environmental Affairs, on the continuing pollution of the Mbango River.

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