Only one candidate nominated by JSC for EC high court vacancies

04 April 2016 - 21:35 By Aarti J Narsee
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Only one candidate was recommended for the vacancies at the Eastern Cape Divisions of the high court by the Judicial Service Commission.

LIGHTER SIDE OF THE LAW: Members of the Judicial Service Commission see the funny side after their interrogation of regional magistrate Sibusiso Msani, who failed to win recommendation to the bench in KwaZulu-Natal. Commissioners lambasted Msani for appearing before them while he was involved in a legal tussle with a woman who claims he fathered three children with her but was not paying maintenance
LIGHTER SIDE OF THE LAW: Members of the Judicial Service Commission see the funny side after their interrogation of regional magistrate Sibusiso Msani, who failed to win recommendation to the bench in KwaZulu-Natal. Commissioners lambasted Msani for appearing before them while he was involved in a legal tussle with a woman who claims he fathered three children with her but was not paying maintenance
Image: Pictures: THOMAS HOLDER

Advocate Richard Brooks‚ the only male candidate was recommended to the president for appointment in Mthatha.

The commission commenced interviews of 34 candidates for various higher court positions around the country. The Eastern Cape division has two vacancies - one in Mthata and in Port Elizabeth.

Despite there being four female candidates out of the total of five‚ none of them faired well during the interview process.

It was deja vu for Advocate Cumie Cossie‚ who was returning for the second time. Commissioner Thandi Modise asked her: "The last time you were here you said Parliament was sovereign. Have you changed your mind?"

Cossie replied: "That was a big mistake. The constitution is supreme."

Advocate Namawabo Msizi‚ was questioned and criticised about one of her judgments. During her interview she said that you can "copy and paste" from earlier judgments if you have done the research.

Nonkosi Saba was also criticised for applying for a position in a region where she has not acted long enough.

Commissioners will burn the midnight oil as interviews for the Supreme Court of Appeal will continue into the night.

The fallout from Nkandla affected proceedings by fast-tracking the hearings for Supreme Court of Appeal vacancies in light of Tuesday’s Parliamentary debate of the Democratic Alliance's motion for President Jacob Zuma to be impeached.

TMG Digital/The Times

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