JSC conducts interviews for new Western Cape High Court Judge President
Cape Town - The race to become the Western Cape High Court’s next judge president was in full effect, as seven esteemed judges stated their case as to why they’d be the best person for the job.
Judge Patricia Goliath, Judge André Le Grange, Judge Nolwazi Mabindla-Boqwana, Judge Babalwa Mantame, Judge Denzil Potgieter, Judge Hayley Slingers, and Judge Mafeleu Thulare, put their best foot forward as they were interviewed by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in Sandton on Monday.
The judge president position became vacant after John Hlophe was impeached last year.
Deputy Judge President Goliath was interviewed first on Monday.
She has been acting judge president for almost two years.
Goliath was born in Cape Town and attended the UWC, where she graduated with a BA and LLB.
When asked what measures she plans to implement to create an environment where judges can speak and work freely without intimidation, Judge Goliath said she introduced judges’ meetings, allowing judges to freely express their views.
“I have been leading that division for almost two years. When I stepped into that position, the division was in a dire state. There were no judges’ meetings held for a period of six years, the tea room was non-existent.”
Judge Goliath’s interview lasted nearly 4 hours. The candidate to follow was Judge Le Grange.
Judge Le Grange’s legal career started in 1988, when he joined the Department of Justice as a Public Protector. Judge Le Grange said he has eight and a half years left before he retires and he would like to build a court that is stable.
“There is no magic wand in regard to both a division that had all these problems, but one can at least start somewhere, and somewhere to start is to have an open debate amongst the colleagues within the division.
“I firmly believe that being there for so long has given me an insight into the division.
“I know the division like the back of my hand and I know the administrative side,” Judge Le Grange told the JSC.
Judge Le Grange said he has no controversy with any colleagues and a number of his colleagues and staff members asked him to put himself forward for the judge president position.
The JSC then interviewed Judge Mabindla-Boqwana, a Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Judge Mabindla-Boqwana has a distinguished legal career spanning over two decades. She started her judicial path with her appointment to the Western Cape High Court in 2013.
In 2017, she joined the Competition Appeal Court and acted at the Supreme Court of Appeal from 2020 to 2021 before being appointed permanently to the SCA in 2022.
When asked why, as a judge doing well at the SCA, she would potentially return to the Western Cape High Court, she responded that: “I was actually nominated for the job and the approach came to me as a surprise and because I was still minding my own business, doing my work, being comfortable at the Supreme Court of Appeal, but I took to heart the confidence that was shown to me.
“I reflected on it that they saw something in me, that at this moment in time, you have something that we think can be valuable to control, for you, to contribute in the Western Cape division of the High Court.”
Later in the evening, Judge Mantame took the stage, an experienced judge of considerable ability who was appointed to the bench at a relatively young age.
She began her legal career as a candidate attorney at GI Yako Incorporated in Mthatha in 1999, after qualifying from (now) Walter Sisulu University with a B.Juris in 1996 and LLB in 1999.
Mantame said she is the right person to lead the court and described herself as a visionary and a born leader.
Judges Potgieter, Slingers, and Thulare were interviewed past the time of going to print. Ultimately, the JSC announced late last night that after interviews and deliberations the commission resolved to recommend Mabindla-Boqwana for the position.
sibuliso.duba@inl.co.za