Shadley Nash in Port Elizabeth
South Africa’s judicial profession was still a divided and conservative one, said Cecil Somyalo, the country’s first attorney to be permanently appointed a judge in the Supreme Court.
In an interview on following his appointment by President Nelson Mandela on Tuesday, Judge Somyalo said his appointment signalled a big break with judicial tradition.
Until now only advocates could be promoted to the bench.
The Port Elizabeth-based attorney, and the only attorney serving on a commission investigating irregular public services promotions, said attorneys could play a crucial role in the judicial process because they were often at the “cutting edge” of legal issues. — Ecna
orn at Qumbu in the former Transkei and after many years of teaching studied law. After serving his articles he entered a 15-year-partnership before establishing his own practice.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I feel honoured,” he said. – Ecna