Helen Zille, leader of the opposition, yesterday announced that she has asked for a meeting with Zuma to discuss fully the DA's opposition to the president's latest choice, Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.

Zille's request comes amid vociferous criticism of the president's preference. There have been questions raised about judgments by Mogoeng, and about whether he is sufficiently experienced to execute the duties of South Africa's foremost judge.

A creation of the new South Africa, the Constitutional Court has been a key institution in the defence and interrogation of our Constitution. The cases the court has heard have created and entrenched the foundations of our society - be they socioeconomic or about human rights.

Mogoeng, if appointed, will have to be at the forefront of protecting the rights of every citizen in South Africa in a careful, considered and measured way. He will be expected to lead the court and his brother and sister judges. And it will be no easy task - even 17 years into our democracy.

Zuma encountered substantial problems in respect of the chief justice when he attempted to extend Sandile Ngcobo's term.

An embarrassing clash between civil society organisations and members of the legal fraternity on one side, and Zuma on the other, was averted only because Ngcobo declined the extension.

It was an entirely realistic expectation that Zuma would have given a new nominee even greater consideration to ensure that his second choice was untainted by controversy.

Many observers expected him to have given serious consideration to Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke as Ngcobo's successor.

Zuma is caught in a rather invidious position. This is his second attempt at securing a new chief justice and having to do it a third time might be too much to ask of our president.