Local attorney to be appointed judge

Pietermaritzburg attorney Matthew Francis, who has been in practice for 28 years, will be appointed as a judge of the Western Cape High Court, after he underwent an interview process on Friday.

Francis (58) received his Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Political Science and Psychology from the University of the Western Cape in 1984. He completed his Honours in Political Science (cum laude) from the same university in 1985 and then went on to receive his Master of Arts (Political Science) from the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg in 1988. He completed his LLB degree (cum laude) from the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, in 1990 and received a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law from the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg in 1999.

He was appointed attorney and conveyancer of the High Court of South Africa in 1993.

Part of his employment history includes being a senior lecturer at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg from January 1994 to September 1996. Francis was the director of Venn Nemeth & Hart Inc. from October 1996 to July 2005. He was director of Garlicke & Bousfield from August 2005 to June 2006 and chairman and senior partner of Venn Nemeth & Hart Inc. from December 2006 to September 30, 2011. He is also the director of Matthew Francis Inc. from October 2011 to date.

Francis has always been actively involved in communitybased activities in the townships in which he grew up, including offering advice and assistance on a pro amico basis to schools, residents and ratepayers’ associations, and sports clubs.