Justice Department Makes Statement on “Distortion” of Appointment Process
- The process of appointing judges to the Constitutional Court has become mired in controversy
- Justice Department spokesperson Chrispin Phiri claims that allegations of interference are an attempt to undermine the judiciary
- Supreme Court Justice Mandisa Maya has been recommended as the new Chief Justice
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JOHANNESBURG - The process of appointing judges to the Constitutional Court has become mired in controversy.
Reports have surfaced of ministers and members of the judiciary exchanging messages in what some have claimed is a deliberate attempt to distort the appointment process.
Source: Twitter
The Justice Department spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri said that the EFF is spreading misinformation.
He said that the insinuation that ministers are trying to influence the appointment of judges to the Constitutional Court is an attempt to undermine the Judiciary.
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Maya recommended as next Chief Justice
Supreme Court Justice Mandisa Maya has been recommended as the next Chief Justice following interviews carried out by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Four judges were interviewed for the position in what has been termed a "marathon".
Maya called on the government to give black lawyers and women the experience they needed to become top practitioners in their fields.
She made the comments during her interview for the position of Chief Justice according to SABC News.
Bloomberg reported that if Maya were appointed Chief Justice, she would be the first woman in South Africa to occupy the position.
Social media users reacted to the news of the new recommendation
@LiberalsAreNaiv:
"They're forcing Ramaphosa' hand. He can't go against this "recommendation", unless he wants to be demonized his whole life as a misogynist who prevented Mandisa Maya from becoming Chief Justice.Person shrugging
Dali Mpofu & Julius Malema will lead that vilification shouting from the rooftops."
@Eusebius:
"The Judicial Service Commission recommends president Cyril Ramaphosa appoints SCA president Mandisa Maya as Chief Justice.
(It's but a recommendation. The president has the constitutional prerogative to override the recommendation. Presumably, he cares for their reasons though.)"
@JohanLorenzen:
"The Judicial Services Commission has recommended that President Ramaphosa appoint Supreme Court of Appeal Judge President Mandisa Maya as Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.
An inspired recommendation.
If the President follows the recommendation, we are in good hands."
SA appalled as ACJ Raymond Zondo says only 1 non-black acting judge in ConCourt
Earlier, Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) Raymond Zondo sat down as the fourth and final candidate in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) interviews for the position of Chief Justice ahead of making a startling revelation on Friday.
Zondo, responding to a question from the chairperson of the proceedings, Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) Deputy President Xola Petse, confirmed that only one white acting judge formed part of the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) bench.
He said the country's apex court has for an undetermined period not had a white judge serving permanently. However, Zondo, who recently handed over the second part of the State Capture Report, said the JSC is expected to convene in April to discuss the appointment of two judges.
Source: Briefly News
