Zuma nominates new chief justice

2011-08-16 13:24

Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma has nominated Judge Mogoeng Mogoeng as chief justice to replace former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo, whose term of office ended on Sunday.

In terms of the Constitution, Zuma has to appoint the chief justice after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and leaders of parties represented in the National Assembly.

"I have today, 16 August 2011, initiated the process of consultation by addressing letters to political parties represented in the National Assembly as well as the JSC advising them of my nomination of Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng as my preferred candidate for the position of chief justice of the Republic of South Africa," he said on Tuesday.

"Justice Mogoeng, who was appointed to the Constitutional Court in 2009, brings several years of experience in the legal profession, including the judiciary," he said.

Mogoeng was appointed a judge of the North West High Court in June 1997, judge of the Labour Appeal Court in April 2000, and in October 2002 he became the judge president of the North West High Court.

Transformation of the judiciary

"He has demonstrated his expertise and keen interest in the transformation of the judiciary and the promotion of access to justice for all by being part of and also leading programmes and activities designed to promote court efficiency and transformation."

He was part of a five-member committee led by former chief justice Pius Langa which investigated allegations of racism and gender discrimination within the judiciary.

He had also organised workshops for judges and magistrates on leadership and sensitivity training as well as workshops for magistrates on judgment writing and trial administration, Zuma said.

In his capacity as chairperson of the North West Provincial Caseflow Management Forum he hosted annual conferences attended by key role players in the justice system.

These conferences addressed issues such as the efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system, restorative justice and non-custodial sentences, access to quality justice, and building the capacity of intermediaries and probation officers.

He now chaired the caseflow management committee which reported to the chief justice and the heads of courts.

In this capacity, he led the team that organised the groundbreaking access to justice conference held on July 8 to 10.

Mogoeng was nominated by the judges president to represent them in the Council of the SA Judicial Education Institute in 2009, Zuma said.

Mogoeng was born in Goo-Mokgatha (Koffiekraal) village, north-east of Zeerust, on January 14, 1961.

He graduated from the University of Zululand with a BJuris in 1983, and completed his LLB at the University of Natal, Durban in 1985.

In 1989, he completed his studies at the University of South Africa, where he studied an LLM concentrating on labour law, the law of property, the law of insurance, the law of evidence, and the law of criminal procedure.

- SAPA