Pretoria - In line with the Department of Justice’s commitment to transform the sheriff’s industry, Minister Michael Masutha has appointed 11 members to serve on the newly constituted South African Board of Sheriffs.
In terms of the Sheriffs Act (Act 90 of 1986), the Minister is responsible for the appointment of sheriffs, as well as the appointment of the chairperson of the board.
“The board comprises six male and five female members from various provinces in the country,” department spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said on Monday.
The new board, which will commence their term of office today, replaces the outgoing board, whose term expired at the end of February.
The department has commended the outgoing board for their notable achievements, which include the implementation of a new Pledge and Code of Conduct applicable to the industry.
The Sheriffs Code was last updated in 1990 when the Sheriffs Act was amended, which made it irrelevant in the context of the country’s democratic constitution, said Mhaga.
The new Code of Conduct and Pledge, he said, are vital for improving service delivery and renewing public faith in the profession.
“The new board is expected to continue to build on these achievements in the professionalization of the sheriff’s industry.
“Amongst its major priorities is the publication of the new Sheriffs Guide: Practice and Procedure, which is intended to lay the foundation for a uniform approach to service delivery in the sheriffs industry,” said Mhaga.
Mhaga said Minister Masutha is confident that the new board will promote a professional sheriffs service that is respectful and efficient to deliver justice to all with integrity and accountability. - SAnews.gov.za
