Former baby Broederbonder gets nod to become a judge

07 October 2015 - 02:03 By Aarti J Narsee

Despite having been a member of the youth wing of the Broederbond during the apartheid era, Willem van der Linde SC has been recommended to the president for appointment as a judge in the Gauteng division of the High Court. Van der Linde survived a grilling by members of the Judicial Service Commission interviewing applicants for positions on the benches of divisions of the High Court and of the Labour Court.Justice Minister Michael Masutha asked Van der Linde, who had told the commissioners that he had a "privileged" background, for advice on how to transform the bar.Masutha said the Western Cape bar had more than 400 advocates but only 20 were black."When it comes to elevation for silk the situation gets more pathetic," he said, noting that there were only four to five black female silks (senior counsel).Van der Linde said: "The only 'practical way' to bring about transformation on the bench is to expose and give women opportunities to act on the bench."His membership of the Afrikaner youth group Die Ruiterwag in the late 1980s came under the spotlight. It emerged that he had later declined to join the Broederbond and is now a member of the Black Lawyers' Association.Van der Linde said he believed it was time to give back to society.Six of the 12 candidates for the positions in the Gauteng division were recommended to President Jacob Zuma for appointment. They are Van der Linde, Judge Annali Basson, advocate Raylene Keightley, Nelisa Mali, Lebogang Modiba and regional magistrate Thifhelimbilu Mudau...

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