Meet Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, says Zuma

President Jacob Zuma has formally appointed Judge Mogoeng Mogoeng as South Africa’s new chief justice and head of the country’s judiciary.

At a press briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, Zuma commended the new chief justice for his dignity in staying silent amid the criticism of Mogoeng that followed his nomination.

He said Mogoeng had responded at the correct forum, the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).

The JSC interview of Chief Justice Mogoeng was the longest and most transparent interview for the position of chief justice since 1994, said Zuma.

The president thanked Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke for acting as chief justice after Mogoeng’s predecessor Sandile Ngcobo stepped down at the beginning of August.

He also paid tribute to Ngcobo, who for 18 months served as the country’s fifth chief justice since 1994, after taking up the reins of the judiciary from Justice Pius Langa in 2009.

Mogoeng will take up his position with immediate effect.

Moegoeng thanked Zuma for the confidence the president had displayed in him.

“I will not betray this trust,” he said.

Mogoeng also expressed gratitude to “the multitudes who supported me in prayer” through the storm that followed his nomination, including the interview by the JSC, which he referred to as “a tsunami of a special kind”.

He vowed to be faithful to South Africa, the Constitution “and the human rights entrenched in it—I do so confident that God will help me
administer justice to all.”—Additional reporting by Sapa

President Jacob Zuma has nominated Constitutional Court judge Mogoeng Mogoeng as the new chief justice. For more news on the controversy surrounding the proposed appointment visit our special report.