
JSC expected to begin with interviews to fill deputy chief justice position
President Cyril Ramaphosa nominated four candidates for the position, which became vacant with the appointment of Mandisa Maya as Chief Justice in September 2024.
Currently, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga is acting as Maya's deputy but is due for retirement in July after serving a non-renewable term of 12 years on the Constitutional Court bench.
Ramaphosa's nomination of four candidates has resulted in the two-day sitting of the JSC, with Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo expected to be the first candidate to be interviewed by the JSC.
Northern Cape Judge President Pule Tlaletsi will follow, while the third and final candidate, Free State Judge President John Musi, will be interviewed on Thursday.
The president had nominated four candidates for the second-highest position in the judiciary; however, Supreme Court of Appeal President Mahube Molemela declined the nomination.
The nominations are in line with Section 174 Subsection 3 of the Constitution, which grants the President the authority to appoint the Chief Justice and their deputy, as well as the president of the Supreme Court of Appeal and their deputy, after consultation with the JSC and leaders of parties represented in the National Assembly.
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