New benchmark for KZN

07 April 2016 - 02:50 By Aarti J Narsee

The status of the KwaZulu-Natal bench as a male preserve has at last been broken.Yesterday the Judicial Service Commission recommended Acting Judge Mokgere Masipa for one of three vacancies in the provincial division of the High Court.It also recommended the appointments of Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Mjabuliseni Madondo as deputy judge-president of the division, and of Pieter Bezuidenhout SC.There has been a shortage of women judges in the divisionand it has also faced problems regarding manpower and infrastructure.Madondo was up against judges Shyam Gyanda and Jerome Mnguni for the position.The interviews for the leadership position provided insight into some of the problems faced by the division."In our division the running of the court is hampered by the lack of capacity, by the lack of courts to deal with matters, accommodation-wise, and difficulties with recording equipment and power that is continually breaking down," said Gyanda.He said there were too few ushers to ensure the consistent and smooth running of the courts. Strikes and protests had resulted in delayed court processes.He told Justice Minister Michael Masutha that little had changed since he had visited the division to deal with the problems."There were promises. but within some weeks things fell into the same rut. Things are broken."Mnguni was grilled by JSC commissioner and EFF leader Julius Malema because of a reference on his CV to entrepreneur and businessman Don Mkhwanazi, founder of the Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust.Mnguni said Mkhwanazi had been one of his mentors.Malema asked Mnguni if he thought he could be the "Obama of that division" because of the lack of seniority he shared with the US president.Masipa was questioned by the commission about an order against her by the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society. She faced charges of withdrawing a matter and tendering costs to her client without his permission. She has taken the matter on appeal.The hearings continue...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.