Advocate Jonas Ben Sibanyoni
Advocate Jonas Ben Sibanyoni obtained a B. Proc degree from the University of Zululand in 1981 and was admitted as an Attorney on the 10th July 1984. In 1995, the High Court of the Republic of South Africa granted him a Right of Audience.
Advocate Sibanyoni’s legal career started in November 1974, when he took up a temporary position as Clerk and Court Interpreter at Witbank Magistrate’s Court. He then took up a more permanent position in September 1975 as a Clerk and interpreter, after a brief tenure with Law Firm in Witbank. In 1977 he obtained a loan to pursue his law degree.
After serving articles as a Candidate Attorney and after his admittance as an Attorney, Advocate Sibanyoni wished to establish his own practice, but failed to receive exemption under the Group Areas Act, applicable at the time. He thus worked as a radio announcer, producer and DJ from March 1982 to August 1984. He eventually established his law practice in Bronkhorstspruit in March 1985. Between April 1993 to February 1995, Advocate Sibanyoni lectured law students at Vista University, Mamelodi Campus, and was the Director of the Legal Aid Clinic.
Advocate Sibanyoni joined the President’s Office in 1995, as Human Resources Manager (RDP Project). He then joined the National Institute for Public Interest Law and Research (NIPLAR) and served as a National Co-ordinator of a network of advice offices, from 1996 to February 1998. In March 1998, he served as a Member of the Amnesty Committee, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), until February 2001.
Advocate Sibanyoni became a Member of Parliament in February 2004 as a Member of the Judicial Service Committee. Amongst the many portfolio committees he was a member of, he served most notably as a member of the Justice and Constitutional Development Portfolio Committee; his area of specialisation was with the Legal Aid Board, Social Development Portfolio Committee and he served as the Committee Chairperson for the Appointment of the Deputy Public Protector in 2004.