Nomination of women judges 'a huge step in redressing judicial gender injustice'

The nomination of four women judges for the recently vacated position by Judge Thembile Skweyiya at the Constitutional Court was a huge step in ensuring that gender imbalances within the judiciary were addressed‚ the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) said on Wednesday.

Judges Zukisa Tshiqi‚ Leona Theron‚ Dhaya Pillay and Nonkosi Mhlantla are to be interviewed on July 9 and 10.

“The commission applauds the Judicial Service Commission for such a bold undertaking to shortlist four women justices.

“The commission has written a letter of support to the four women nominated for the Constitutional Court position.

“We believe with their education and experience as jurists and whoever gets to be recommended for the post will do well to advance the course of gender equality‚” the commission said.

The CGE said it believed that although the nominations were what it stood for in terms of its mandate‚ it was its firm belief that more needed to be done in order to ensure that there was acceleration in terms of gender balance within the judicial system.

“Fifty percent representation of women in all structures is our primary objective therefore the CGE encourages all institutions to adhere to principles of SADC Protocol on Gender and Development which calls for 50-50 in all the structures”‚ CGE chairperson Mfanozelwe Shozi said.

The CGE was established in terms of Section 187 of the Constitution in order to promote respect for gender equality and the protection‚ development and attainment of gender equality.

The Judges:

• Tshiqi is a judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal and has served as an acting judge on the Constitutional Court.
• Theron has been a judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal since December 2010.
• Pillay has been a judge of the High Court in Pietermaritzburg and Durban since 2010.
• Mhlantla has been an acting judge on the Constitutional Court since 2012.

RDM News Wire.