/ 27 January 2015

Acting Concourt judges appointments boast a female majority

Role of honour: The Constitutional Court.
Role of honour: The Constitutional Court.

President Jacob Zuma has appointed three acting Constitutional Court judges, the presidency said on Tuesday, the majority of which are women.

There has been some concern about the lack of female judges on the bench.

In July last year three female judges were appointed to the bench in an acting capacity, one of them Supreme Court Judge Zukisa Tshiqi, who is still acting in place of Justice Chris Jafta. Jafta is on holiday until March 31 this year.

Tshiqi has again been appointed to the Constitutional Court in an acting capacity from April 1 to May 31.

The country’s second female Judge President, Mohube Molemela, head of the Free State high court division, is appointed for four months from February 1 to May 31, while KwaZulu-Natal high court deputy judge president Achmat Jappie will be acting from February 1 to March 31. 

Judge Leona Theron will act in place of Justice Johann van der Westhuizen, who will also be on holiday, from February 1 until May 31 this year.

Presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a statement: “The president has appointed three judges to act as judges of the Constitutional Court during various periods, due to the vacancy which occurred and vacation leave of one of the judges … to ensure that there is an appropriate quorum at all times.”

Judge Tshiqi, North West Judge President Monica Leeuw and Judge Theron were appointed in July 2014.