Interesting, thank you. It is a very odd word (I think). I'd like to learn the origin. Google translate (Afrikaans to English) does give it as Sheriff. It does not recognize Balju as a Dutch word. Keith ------ Original Message ------ Received: Sat, 24 Sep 2011 12:26:53 PM EDT From: "Johan Venter" <johannv69@ovi.com> To: south-africa@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [SOUTH-AFRICA] Occupation: BALJU Hi Keith, "Balju" is the Afrikaans term for a "Sheriff of the Court". In the SA legal system, the sheriff's job is to enforce court orders, ie delivering summonses, court orders, etc. and also confiscate a person's property, if such confiscation was ordered by a court. Not a very popular job, indeed. As to the exact origin of the word, I am not very clear, but I am sure that, like "landdrost" (magistrate), it originates in Roman-Dutch Law. Johan. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOUTH-AFRICA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message