The story of Olga Ruth Mann, pioneering female Judicial person in the then Union of South Africa before the country's independence.
She started off in 1943 as a typist in the Justice department.
She went on to serve for 5 years on the civil bench, then on to the district court in Natal.
In 1959 she became the first female regional prosecutor in the Johannesburg Court,
after which she became South Africa's first woman magistrate in March 1963.
When asked how she broke the glass ceiling, she said
"I worked for it" -
& she did & suffered for it in a viscerally male world.
In 1972 Ruth became the first female Commissioner for Child Welfare in the District of Johannesburg - which she held until retiring 4 years later.
She spoke English, Afrikaans & Zulu fluently, & communicated in several other African languages.
She passed in February 1997 after a protracted fight against Cancer.
A legend and a fighter for women's rights.
Poem: OLGA RUTH MANN
first lady magistrate
& Commissioner of Children’s Welfare
just our auntie Olga Mann
overlayed on photo of Olga Ruth Mann (Brink) standing by her bench on the first day of her full appointment in South Africa, 1963
this image ©ilinkcs(2025)
not by blood
but by love
our Auntie Olga Mann
That’s how the family knew her
That’s how we #children knew her
First in our affections
of course we didn't know
First in her profession
as female #magistrate
& #Commissioner -
Jozis Childrens #Welfare
click ALT for back story
#poetry #poem #haiku