By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed judges Jody Kollapen and Rammaka Mathopo as judges of the Constitutional Court.
Ramaphosa made the announcement on Friday.
Candidates, who didn’t make the cut, are Justice Mahube Molemela, Justice Fayeeza Kathree-Setiloane and Justice Bashier Vally.
In terms of the Constitution, the president appoints the judges of the Constitutional Court after consulting the Chief Justice and the leaders of parties represented in the National Assembly.
On 27 October, the acting chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Judge Raymond Zondo, wrote to Ramaphosa recommending the five candidates to fill two vacancies in the Constitutional Court.
JSC had conducted interviews on 4 October.
“The president consulted with Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and the leaders of parties represented in the National Assembly through a letter, dated 22 November 2021, with regard to the five candidates nominated by the JSC,” the Presidency said in a statement.
“The due date for comment on the candidates was 14 December 2021.”
Part of the administrative process is a requirement that the Department of Justice make a formal submission to the Presidency in relation to the JSC’s recommendation.
This submission was received by the Presidency on 21 December.
The Presidency said Kollapen and Mathopo have illustrious careers in the legal profession and the judiciary.
Kollapen served as a Judge of Gauteng Division from 2010 after he served as a member and later chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission.
Mathopo was appointed as a judge in the Gauteng Division of the High Court in 2006 and was elevated to the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2015.
Ramaphosa wishes Justices Kollapen and Mathopo well in their new role.