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Daily Maverick
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
JSC to recommend Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo for Deputy Chief Justice position
The Judicial Service Commission has decided to recommend the Gauteng Judge President for the second-highest position in the judiciary — after his 2022 bid for Chief Justice was nearly torpedoed in what seemed to be a coordinated campaign to derail his candidacy. Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo has been given the nod by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for the position of Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ). 'The JSC has decided to advise the President that Judge President Mlambo of the Gauteng Division is suitable for appointment as Deputy Chief Justice, and in accordance with that decision, a report will be submitted by the JSC to the President, including a report on the other two candidates,' said JSC commissioner advocate Sesi Baloyi on Thursday, 2 July. The position of DCJ has been vacant since September 2024, when Chief Justice Mandisa Maya assumed her role at the apex of the judiciary. This week, three candidates went head to head in front of the JSC. In addition to Mlambo, President Cyril Ramaphosa nominated the Judge President of the Free State Division, Cagney Musi, and the Judge President of the Northern Cape, Pule Tlaletsi, for the DJC role. A fourth nominee, Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) Justice Mahube Molemela, withdrew. Both Tlaletsi and Musi stumbled at points in their interviews; Tlaletsi, notably, for saying that sexual harassment in the judiciary was an issue that he had not personally 'identified as a problem', and Musi over his contentious decision to allocate the R24.9-million Nulane case to acting Judge Nompumelelo Gusha. Last month, the SCA reversed Gusha's decision to grant discharges and acquittals to all the accused in the Nulane matter, in a ruling that found the acting judge had made multiple legal errors. On Thursday, Musi, who was one of the SCA's panel of judges at the appeal, defended his decision to appoint Gusha, adding, however, that he agreed with the SCA decision. 'The judge [Gusha] got it wrong. That is why we have courts of appeal. I agree totally with the SCA,' he said. 'Threat to the rule of law' Mlambo, interviewed first in a marathon session on Wednesday, said it would be 'an honour' for him to serve as South Africa's next DCJ. He is South Africa's most senior Judge President, Mbekezeli Benjamin, a research and advocacy officer at Judges Matter, reported in Daily Maverick. For the past 15 years he has served as Judge President of two of South Africa's busiest courts — the Labour Court and then the Gauteng Division of the High Court. At 66, if appointed, Mlambo will serve as DCJ for four years until his mandatory retirement in 2029. 'I think my leadership style, Chief Justice, is one of inclusivity, team-leading and enabling. Were I to be recommended as Deputy Chief Justice, I would continue in that leadership philosophy,' said Mlambo. Asked by Maya whether he would have an issue working under her — a woman who is younger than him — Mlambo said: 'I will not have a problem with that. In fact, I don't think it's an issue at all. 'I'm not in the judiciary for positions. I'm in the judiciary to ensure that the judiciary fulfils its constitutional mandate in whatever capacity I find myself in. And I would gladly support you, and work under you, and abide by your dictates and directions, Chief Justice.' Mlambo vied for the position of Chief Justice in 2022, against Maya and former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, to succeed then Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng. But Mlambo and Zondo's interviews were nearly derailed by attempted political hit-jobs from a JSC cabal led by advocate Dali Mpofu and EFF leader Julius Malema, reported Daily Maverick's Rebecca Davis. Ramaphosa later chose to ignore the JSC's recommendation of Maya — as was his legal right — and appointed Zondo as Chief Justice in March 2022. He retired on 31 August 2024 and was replaced by Maya. Following the public interview process, the JSC has deliberated and resolved to advise the President that Judge President D Mlambo is suitable for appointment as the Deputy Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa. #JSCinterviews #ocj_rsa #JudiciaryRSA — RSAJudiciary (@OCJ_RSA) July 3, 2025 In his interview, Mlambo took a particularly firm stance on the issue of the unacceptability of attacks on the judiciary. 'Powerful people who criticise the courts, who impute corruption and other negative implications on the imputations of the judiciary are a threat to [the] rule of law,' said Mlambo. He said the DCJ should take up the mantle of supporting the Chief Justice in engaging with legal professionals and civil society and making them aware that 'this type of wanton, unfounded criticism of the judiciary is a problem'. Mlambo, at first, did not reference political parties or politicians specifically, but asked by Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi about the issue, he admitted he shied away from mentioning 'political players in the criticism of the judiciary'. He said it was the constitutional prerogative of the executive and the legislature to defend the judiciary 'when it comes under unnecessary and unwarranted attack'. Modernisation of the judiciary Maya revealed that Mlambo had played a key role in the judiciary's motivation for its independence. Honouring the 30th anniversary of the Constitutional Court last month, Ramaphosa announced plans for the judiciary to become an independent institution like Parliament — a call judges have been making for years. He vowed that the government would provide budgetary and operational support. Mlambo said he would support Maya in her vision of judicial independence. 'Chief Justice, you've hit the ground running as the current Chief Justice. Your vision is very clear: the independence of the judiciary. And, hardly a year in office, the executive has yielded. We've been fighting this battle for the last 14-15 years, but now it's going to become reality that we will also be institutionally independent,' he said. Mlambo is renowned for his administrative wizardry and innovative approach to leadership. He spearheaded the roll-out of the court online system in the Gauteng Division of the High Court in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, and as chair of the judiciary's IT committee he has overseen the further roll-out of this system to seven of the nine provinces, reported Daily Maverick. He said he had been 'fortunate' to have been 'central to the modernisation of the judiciary' in South Africa. The DCJ, according to Mlambo, 'must possess strong intellectual leadership skills to support and advance the constitutional jurisprudence development' of the Constitutional Court. 'The Deputy Chief Justice, as supporting the Chief Justice, must have a very well-developed operational, as well as a systems and administrative sense, to ensure that the operations of the Constitutional Court, and of the general judiciary, goes according to plan and achieves its objectives,' he said. Mlambo said he believed the role of the DCJ was to enable efficiency at the Constitutional Court. He said it was 'not good' that some Constitutional Court judgments take several months to be delivered. DM
IOL News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Meet the candidates for Deputy Chief Justice
Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo is one of three candidates who will be interviewed on Wednesday for the position of Deputy Chief Justice. Image: Picture: Timothy Bernard/African News Agency The process to choose the country's next deputy chief justice starts on Wednesday when the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and leaders of political parties and others within the legal fraternity will interview three possible candidates. But President Cyril Ramaphosa, as head of the National Executive, after consulting the JSC and the leaders of parties represented in the National Assembly, will have the final say over who will stand by the side of Chief Justice Mandisa Maya. The position of deputy chief justice has been vacant since September 1 last year, when the then-Deputy Chief Justice Maya rose to the position of chief justice. The three candidates who will be interviewed are Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo, Free State Judge President Cagney Musi, and Northern Cape Judge President Pule Tlaletsi. A fourth nominee, Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) Justice Mahube Molemela, withdrew. Group Judges Matter, which advocates for transparency and accountability within the judiciary, looked at the chances of each of the judges to get the nod and said Judge Mlambo, 66, has impeccable credentials as a judicial leader. For the last 15 years, he has served as judge president of two of the busiest courts in the country – the Labour Court and then the Gauteng High Court. He is currently the most senior judge president in South Africa in terms of years of service. According to Judges Matter, he is regarded by the legal profession as an innovative and savvy leader, and he spearheaded the rollout of the Court Online system in the Gauteng High Court in 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. As chair of the Judiciary's IT committee, he has overseen the further rollout of Court Online to seven of the nine provinces. Before moving into judicial leadership, he was a judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal and has served a brief stint as an acting justice of the Constitutional Court, and the Labour Appeal Court, which signals experience in working in teams of appellate judges. Judges Matter said Judge Musi, 63, has the distinct advantage of having spent half his life as a judicial officer. He started as a district magistrate and worked his way up to be a regional magistrate, high court judge, deputy judge president and now judge president. 'This offers him a unique 'bottom-up' perspective on the judiciary. Should he be appointed as DCJ, this perspective would be an asset in helping implement CJ Maya's vision of a single, unified judiciary (with magistrates and judges under one roof),' Judges Matter said. Judge Musi, the youngest of the three candidates, would serve for nearly the duration of CJ Maya's tenure. In looking at Judge Tlaletsi's chances, Judges Matter said the 65-year-old has 22 years of judicial experience under his belt, with 13 as deputy judge president of the Labour Court and then the Northern Cape High Court. Judge Tlaletsi is actively involved in the leadership roles in the judiciary. 'This experience will be particularly crucial in supporting CJ Maya's vision of a single, unified judiciary that governs its own affairs,' Judges Matter said. Cape Times
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BRS to ring in silver jubilee with meeting in Warangal today
Hyderabad: Emerging from the struggle to achieve separate statehood for Telangana to becoming a national party in a span of 25 years, BRS is celebrating its silver jubilee on Sunday. The party, which was founded at Jala Drushyam on the banks of Hussainsagar, will hold a public meeting at Elkaturthy in Warangal district to mark the major milestone. The party, which started with a handful of people led by party supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao, now has branches in 60 countries and over 63 lakh members in Telangana alone. The party, which ruled Telangana for nearly 10 years since the formation of the state in 2014, lost power in the state in 2023 and drew a blank in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, hopes to bounce back in the next elections. Former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is likely to make a public appearance and address a public meeting after several months. He had last addressed a public meeting in Nalgonda over the Krishna Water sharing dispute. Since this is the major meeting after the electoral debacle, the party leaders hope it would boost the morale of the party workers in the state. "It's a milestone for the party as only BRS (earlier TRS), after JMM of Jharkhand, which started as a movement party turned political party. JMM has been ruling the state for several years. People are now eager to see BRS supremo KCR," BRS working president KT Rama Rao said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo KTR said BRS (earlier TRS) has faced many struggles and setbacks during the 13-year Telangana movement and in the past 17 months, the party has been fighting for the people on various public issues like Rythu Bharosa, loan waiver, students' scholarships, fee reimbursement, paddy procurement, and BC caste survey. "It has gained the faith of the people, and they sought the party's support on the Musi project, HYDRAA, University of Hyderabad (UoH) land issues," the working president said. For Sunday's public meeting, the party is targeting to mobilise 10 lakh people, about 3,000 to 5,000 from every assembly constituency. The majority of the people would come from Warangal, Khammam, Karimnagar, and surrounding districts. Of the 1,213 acres of land in Elkaturthy village, the party dais would be in 154 acres to seat about 500 people, including elected representatives and senior party functionaries, and 1,500 acres have been earmarked for vehicle parking. Another dais was erected for cultural programmes, and 2,000 volunteers were pressed into service for any help. To avoid any traffic issues due to vehicle breakdowns, 25 towing vehicles and 250 CCTV cameras with a dedicated command control centre have been arranged. "For uninterrupted power supply, 200 generators will be kept ready and 23 LED screens for the participants. Nearly 10 lakh water packets, 16 lakh buttermilk packets, temporary toilets, and other arrangements have been made at the venue," the party said in a statement.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
KTR hints at no return for defected BRS MLAs
Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi working president KT Rama Rao has indicated that the party may not allow MLAs who allegedly defected to the Congress to return—even if they wish to come back. Over the past year, 10 BRS MLAs switched loyalties, with a few occasionally claiming they are still part of the BRS. The party has petitioned the Supreme Court to disqualify these legislators, citing inaction by the Telangana assembly speaker. The court reserved its verdict on the matter in early April. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad "In my opinion, those who defected should not be taken back, even if they plead. The party must respect the sentiments of grassroots workers who oppose their return. We've already started nurturing new leadership in their constituencies," KTR said during an informal media interaction on Friday. "But ultimately, the party will take a call on such matters at the appropriate time," he added. KTR criticised chief minister A Revanth Reddy for stating on the assembly floor that there would be no by-elections in the constituencies, despite the matter being sub judice in the Supreme Court. Responding to the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) report on the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages under the Kaleshwaram project, KTR clarified: "This is an NDSA report, not an NDA govt report. Why did the state govt sit on it for four months after receiving it in Dec 2024? Their goal is to target the BRS, especially now as we approach the party's 25th anniversary." He also questioned the Centre's selective response. "Why did the Centre immediately send a team when block 7 of Medigadda sank, but showed no urgency when the SLBC tunnel roof collapsed, or when the Sunkishala retaining wall and the Peddavagu bund gave way?" Preparing for upcoming polls KTR confirmed that the BRS is preparing to contest upcoming local body or GHMC elections, with the Congress as its primary rival, not the BJP. He said the BRS, as the principal opposition, has regained public trust over the last 17 months. Telangana Bhavan, the party's headquarters, is now being referred to as a 'Janata Garage', with various groups like the Lagacharla and Musi victims, HYDRAA, University of Hyderabad students, and Group I aspirants seeking its support. Public meet on Apr 27 As the party marks 25 years since its formation, it will hold a silver jubilee public meeting at Elkaturthy in Warangal district on April 27, where party president K Chandrasekhar Rao is expected to address the gathering.
