Research and Advocacy officer at Judges Matter, Mbekezeli Benjamin, has criticised the Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC) handling of the appointment of the country’s new Chief Justice.
Constitutional Court judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga, Supreme Court president Mandisa Maya, Gauteng High Court judge president Dunstan Mlambo and current Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo have been shortlisted for the position.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that he has put forward the four names to the Commission as final candidates for the highest judicial office in the land.
VIDEO: JSC reruns interviews for two Constitutional Court judge positions, Chief Justice nominations: Karyn Maughan
The Commission says it will only conduct interviews for the position in February 2022.
Benjamin has accused the Commission of lacking a sense of urgency by coming up with what he terms an unnecessary delay.
“It is actually disappointing that the Judicial Service Commission decided to withhold the appointing process. The reason they have given for pushing it to next year is really not strong enough. We believe from our view that the JSC is not treating the matter as urgently as it should.”
“It shouldn’t have pushed the interview to February. It should have conducted them in January when both the courts and parliament are in recess and would have brought everyone together,” says Benjamin.
