Oliver Schreiner

Oliver Deneys Schreiner MC KC (29 December 1890 – 27 July 1980), was a judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa. One of the most renowned South African judges, he was passed over twice for the position of Chief Justice of South Africa for political reasons. He was later described by Ellison Kahn as "the greatest Chief Justice South Africa never had".

Early life and education

Schreiner was born in Cape Town in 1890, the son of William Philip Schreiner, the Prime Minister of the Cape Colony during the Boer War, and his wife, Frances, a sister of President F. W. Reitz. But this plan failed when notorious National Party favourite L. C. Steyn failed to agree.

Oliver