By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the public to nominate South Africa’s next chief justice to promote transparency.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng’s term will come to an end on 11 October.
The Presidency announced anyone would able to nominate a candidate.
A nomination should be accompanied by an endorsement and support of at least one professional body of legal practitioners or NGOs working in the field of human rights or other legal areas.
“Nominations should set out the reasons why the nominee is deemed suitable to be the next chief justice, their experience both as a legal practitioner, including any experience as a judge and as a leader,” it said.
The public has until 1 October to submit their applications to angeline@presidency.gov.za and cjnominations@gcis.gov.za with the following documentation:
- A nomination letter, including the contact details of the nominator.
- The nominee’s acceptance of the nomination and their contact details.
- Letters of support for the nomination, including contact details of persons or entities that support the nomination, including at least one letter of support from a professional body of legal practitioners, or NGOs working in the field of human rights, or other legal field.
- Any additional documentation that the person nominating the candidate for chief justice deems relevant.
All nominations will be made public on the Presidency’s website, and any objections should be sent in writing by 15 October.
A panel chaired by Navi Pillay, the former International Court of Justice judge and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, will then shortlist between three and five candidates for the president’s consideration.
The panel also includes Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola, former justice minister Jeff Radebe, former Public Protector advocate Thuli Madonsela, SA National Aids Council co-chairperson Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, and Professor Ziyad Motala of the Howard University School of Law.