The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has handed over the names of candidates they believe should fill the three vacant judicial seats in the Mpumalanga High Court, as well as a candidate for the position of the first-ever deputy judge president in the province.
Thandoluhle Mankge, Takalani Ratshibvumo and Lindiwe Vukeya were nominated out of the seven candidates who had applied for the three vacancies.
The JSC also recommended Judge Segopotje Mphahlele for Mpumalanga High Court’s first deputy judge president. Mphahlele beat out her competition, Judge Anna Shane Kgoele.
Mphahlele is perhaps best known for the infamous “coffin case” of 2016. Her ruling was amended by the Supreme Court of Appeal. In her interview with the JSC, she pointed out that although controversial, it was the only judgement of hers that had ever been reviewed by the Supreme Court of Appeal.
The JSC received an opinion from a law firm against appointing Kgoele. The protest stated that Kgoele had a “lack of composure and understanding of the law” and should therefore not be appointed. Kgoele protested the statement, but Mphahlele was nominated for the position.
The appointment of judges to the High Court is an important process in the country’s democracy, as judges exercise a lot of power.
The process takes place every year, however, it could not happen last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent national lockdown.
This year is thus of vital importance as, nationally, 31 vacancies are open at judicial institutions, including the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court of Appeal.
The JSC oversees the interviews and nominates the candidates they believe should be appointed. These names are then given to President Cyril Ramaphosa to sign off on.
The JSC consists of local and national official from the judiciary, private practices and government, including Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane and judge president of the Mpumalanga High Court, Francis Legodi.
This article was originally published in the Lowvelder.
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