Human Rights of Women
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has called for more women and black candidates to apply for judge vacancies.The JSC yesterday announced the names of candidates it had recommended to President Jacob Zuma for various vacant judge positions. It noted that of the 31 candidates shortlisted for the vacant positions, only nine were women. Of the nine women interviewed by the JSC, only three were recommended to Zuma for appointment.
"If the JSC were to fulfil its constitutional mandate... which requires the JSC to give consideration to the need of the judiciary to reflect broadly the racial and gender composition of South Africa when judicial appointments are made, more women and black candidates should make themselves available for these positions," the JSC said.
The JSC recommended Judge M J D Wallis for the Supreme Court of Appeal; Judge D H Zondi for the Competition Appeal Court; Advocate M M Mthembu as a judge for the Electoral Court; and Acting Judge M V Phatshoane as judge at the Northern Cape High Court
The JSC was unable to recommend candidates to some of the vacancies in the Supreme Court of Appeal, Electoral Court, KwaZulu-Natal High Court, North and South Gauteng High Court and the Western Cape High Court.
These positions are expected to be re-advertised and will then be considered at the next sitting of the JSC.