'Inarticulate' would-be judge explains

19 October 2011 - 02:52 By PHILANI NOMBEMBE
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Attorney Mmonoa Teffo has told the Judicial Service Commission that English was not her mother tongue.

Teffo, one of the aspirants for a position on the bench of either the Johannesburg or the Pretoria High Court, said this on being asked about her "inarticulate" judgments.

One of the commissioners told her that the Johannesburg Bar had criticised her for "inexperience, history of tardiness in producing judgments, and poorly reasoned and inarticulate judgments".

"Well, I would say that English is not my mother tongue," Teffo said.

"I was also a [Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration] commissioner, where I had been writing judgments, so it is their opinion."

She explained that she had reserved 12 judgments - another criticism - because "I had an unfortunate time when I lost a parent". She said the loss had affected her work.

The state of the law library at the Johannesburg High Court was in the spotlight when advocate Roland Sutherland was asked how it could be better used as a legal resource.

"As far as the library is concerned . the most important omission is a qualified and insightful librarian. The staff that are there . are not equipped to provide what a qualified librarian would be able to offer," said Sutherland.

"I would be encouraged to know that there was a commitment by the authorities to both fund staff and stock up that library."

Gauteng Deputy Judge President Phineas Mojapelo said the library was on its way to recovery.

"I feel duty-bound to point out that . the new chief librarian is in place," he said.

The members of the interviewing panel were Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe and Home Affairs Deputy Minister Fatima Chohan.

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