Judicial Officers Association Of South Africa / About
Managament
The aims and objectives of JOASA are, amongst others, to:
•Support a strong, independent and cohesive judiciary which dispenses justice according to the law, free of fear, favour or prejudice;
•Create and promote uniformity amongst judicial officers;
•Collect and publish information for the guidance of judicial officers and the improvement of their skills, expertise and proficiency; and
•Promote and maintain the rule of law, as well as the dignity and status of the office of judicial officer.
Neelan Karikan (NM
President of JOASA
Mr Karikan has been in the public service and employ of the Department of Justice
since 1994. This is already in excess of 28 years. His first position was that of an
administration clerk. In 1994 he had completed his BA (Law) Degree and was
promoted to Assistant Administration Officer in the Inanda jurisdiction, within KZN.
In 1999 Mr Karikan had completed his LLB degree and was elevated to post of State
Prosecutor.
He has since worked in the following courts within the Inanda Jurisdiction: –
1. Verulam
2. Tongaat
3. Newlands
4. Ntuzuma
5. Phoenix
Mr Karikan subsequently transferred to the province of Gauteng and worked in the
Randburg Magistrates Court. He had the benefit of prosecuting in the following
courts:
1. Randburg District Courts
2. Randburg Regional Courts
3. Midrand District Courts
4. Alexandra District Courts
5. Alexandra Regional Courts
In 2005 he was appointed as an Acting Magistrate. He was placed in the ‘Civil
Section’ Johannesburg under the leadership of the late Senior Civil Magistrate Mr
Reuben Mandelstam. He has since worked in all areas of the Civil District Bench.
He is currently also a presiding officer of the Equality Court.
Mr Karikan was appointed Senior District Magistrate in the Randburg District Court in
2019 as Head of the Civil and Family Section. He is currently Acting in the Regional
Magistrate’s Court of Randburg and Alexandra performing both Civil and Criminal
Court duties, inclusive of Divorce Matters.
Mr Karikan has also been involved with the SOUTH AFRICAN JUDICIAL
EDUCATION INSTITUTE (SAJEI) engaged in the training of District Court
Magistrates. He has been a facilitator training the newly appointed magistrates since
February 2018 and also more recently the new group of appointees in 2022. This
exposure has allowed Mr Karikan to facilitate training sessions in the various
provinces of the Country. Mr Karikan was also part of a delegation seconded to
embark on International Judicial training. This training was conducted in the
neighbouring country of Botswana.
Mr Karikan has also successfully completed the ASPIRANT REGIONAL
MAGISTRATES COURT COURSE, ASPIRANT SENIOR MAGISTRATES COURSE
and the BASIC JUDGES COURSE.
