Carpe Diem, “seize the day”, a Latin phrase echoes the current action on the part of the Chief Justice with the recent appointment of three female Judges as Acting Judges at the Constitutional Court.
The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) through its current investigation regarding the lack of gender transformation in the judiciary has unearthed certain obstacles in the transformation process, one of these “bottlenecks” is the requirement (be it implied) that a Judge should have acted in the position.
The CGE is of the view that the recent appointment of women Judges to act in the positions as follows: appointment of North West Judge President Monica Leeuw to act for Justice Thembile Skweyisa and Supreme Court of Appeal Judges Zukisa Tshiqi and Leona Theron for Justices Chris Jafta and Johann Van Der Westhuizen respectively is a applaudable and is the step in the right direction.
Mr Mfanozelwe Shozi, the Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality aptly espoused that: “These appointments would serve as a motivation for aspirant judges and law students that opportunities and enabling environment is being created for them to succeed in the highest court in the land.”
The CGE has also “seized the day” by ensuring that it has formally nominated a women candidate for the recent Judicial Service Commission advertisements for Judge President of the Free State Division. Accordingly, the CGE calls all South Africans to “seize the day” and nominate women candidates for appointment to the judiciary.
Contact person:
Javu Baloyi
Cell: 083 579 3306
