When Johnny Bakker is not in the courtroom, you will most likely find him on a surf board. He specialises in labour law and when he teams up with his wife, advocate Hannelie Bakker, they make a formidable team. He is also the president of Surfing SA and vice-president of surfing for the African continent.
We caught up with Gqeberha’s favourite surfing lawyer.
Q: What can we still expect from you before the end of the year?
A: There is still lots of work to be done.
Q: What book or books are on your bedside table at the moment?
A: Books by Elon Musk, Ronald Reagan, Nikita Khrushchev and the History of the Tour de France.
Q: What is the most cherished or expensive item you own and what would you say it is worth?
A: My Toyota Landcruiser; to me it is priceless.
Q: What’s your favourite childhood memory?
A: When I first started to surf, and there has been no looking back.
Q: If you had to eat only one dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A: My favourite snack — salted peanuts and raisins.
Q: If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be doing?
A: I would most likely be a medical doctor.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from a coach/mentor?
A: Don’t waste time watching TV, get up early, exercise, read a lot (not fiction), and be humble — we are all just human beings at the end of the day.
Q: If you could have dinner with any powerful figure, who would they be and why?
A: Warren Buffett (American businessman, investor and philanthropist).
Image: Facebook
Q: Who or what inspires you?
A: My doctoral supervisors at Nelson Mandela University, professors Biggs and Wagenaar.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure?
A: Sleeping in church.
Q: Tea or coffee?
A: Coffee.
Q: Do you have a favourite TV programme/film?
A: Seinfeld.
Q: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time outside your profession?
A: Surfing, cycling and research for my thesis.
Q: What do you typically get up to in the first two hours of waking up every day?
A: I have some coffee, followed by running with my dog or cycling, followed by research.
Q: What three things are you most passionate about?
A: Surfing, labour law and completing my doctorate in law.
Q: If you could instantly solve one world problem, what would it be and why?
A: There would be no more wars.
Q: If you were to wake up as the opposite gender for 24 hours, how would you spend those hours?
A: I actually don’t know…
Q: Who was your biggest influence or inspiration when you started your career?
A: My wife, advocate Hannelie Bakker, advocate Francois le Roux and attorney Chris Baker.
Q: Can you share a funny or memorable moment from your work?
A: When clients ask me for a complicated legal opinion, they ask me if I have first checked it with Hannelie.
Q: Do you believe in any superstitions or rituals?
A: No.
Q: What is your favourite clothing item and why?
A: An O’Neill wetsuit, and any warm and comfortable clothing.
Q: What would you list as your greatest achievement?
A: Being the president of Surfing SA, and vice-president of surfing for the African continent.
Q: Do you have a secret talent no-one knows about?
A: I actually draw comic strips really well.
Q: What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
A: Probably the Ironman.
