George Munnik Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
George Munnik
Honorific-Suffix:QC
Office2:Judge of the Eastern Cape Local Division of the Supreme Court
Term Start2:1962
Term End2:1973
Office1:Chief Justice of the Transkei High Court
Term Start1:1973
Term End1:1981
Predecessor1:Office established
Successor1:Joos Hefer
Office:Judge President of the Cape Provincial Division
Term Start:1981
Term End:1991
Predecessor:Jack Watermeyer
Successor:Gerald Friedman
Birthname:George Glaeser Anderson Munnik
Birth Date:8 November 1921
Birth Place:Dordrecht, Union of South Africa
Alma Mater:University of Cape Town
Profession:Advocate

George Glaeser Anderson Munnik QC (8 November 1921 – 30 March 2004) was a South African judge, Chief Justice of the Transkei High Court and Judge President of the Cape Provincial Division of the Supreme Court from 1981 until 1991.

Early life and education

Munnik was born in Dordrecht in the Cape Province and after receiving his initial education in Dordrecht, finished his schooling at SACS. He studied law at the University of Cape Town and graduated with the degrees B.A. and LL.B.[1]

Career

Munnik began practicing as an advocate at the Johannesburg Bar in 1946 and in 1958 became Queen's counsel. He received his first acting appointment as a judge during 1960 at the Transvaal Provincial Division. In 1962 he moved from Johannesburg, as he was appointed judge at the Eastern Cape Local Division in Grahamstown. He was appointed the chief justice of the Transkei High Court in 1973. Although Munnik never practiced in Cape Town, he was appointed Judge President of the Cape Provincial Division in 1981, a post he had held until his retirement in 1991.[2]

Notable cases and honours

In 1983, Munnik presided over the trial of Dieter Gerhardt, who was charged with high treason as a spy for the Soviet Union.[3] He was awarded a LL.D. degree by the University of Fort Hare in 1989.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Who's who of Southern Africa 1962. Wootton & Gibson (PTY) LTD. 1962. Johannesburg. 548.
  2. Book: Friedman. Gerald. Gauntlett. Jeremy. Bar, bench & bullshifters : Cape tales 1950-1990. 2013. Siber Ink. 978-1-920025-69-4. Cape Town, South Africa. 21. 846790131.
  3. News: Sparks. Allister. 1983. Ex-Commodore Found Guilty Of Treason in South Africa. The Washington Post.
  4. Web site: Hon. Mr Justice George Glaeser Anderson Munnik Nelson R. Mandela School of Law. 2021-03-16. www.ufh.ac.za.