President Jacob Zuma will consider seven women for judicial positions. – image – timeslive.co.za

The Judicial Service Commission has a constitutional mandate to bring about transformation in the judiciary by highlighting the demographics of the South African population. The Judicial Service Council included seven women to the list that President Jacob Zuma will consider for appointment as judges. In total, nine candidates were brought to the attention of the president. The JSC released a statement which read: “This serves as a clear indication of the JSC’s commitment to the provisions of 174(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.”

These nominations are an indication that the JSC takes its mandate seriously. The Judicial Service Council encouraged the legal community to develop, support and nominate more women to perform in judicial positions.
From the Eastern Cape, the JSC recommended Judge I. T. Stretch of the Eastern Cape High Court. Judges S. Pather of the Electoral Court, N. P. Boqwana who is active at the Western Cape High Court and S. Naidoo from the Free State High Court were also included in the list. The remaining three women who made the judicial candidate list are all from Gauteng. They are Judges M. M. Jansen, S. S. Mphahlele and N. J. van Niewenhuizen.

Interviews for the judicial positions were held in Cape Town during the course of last week. According to media reports, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng had a meeting with Zuma on Tuesday during which he handed the recommendations to the president.

The two men whose names were put forward are well-known in the judicial fraternity. One of them is Judge P. L. Tlaletsi whom the JSC believes would be ideal for the role of Deputy Judge President of the Labour and Labour Appeal Court. The other is Judge A. J. Bam.

President Jacob Zuma will take some time to consider the recommendations made to him.