Media Statement by President Zuma on the nomination of candidate for position of Chief Justice of the Republic, August 16 2011
The position of Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa became vacant at midnight on the 14th August of 2011 as a result of the discharge from active service of former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo.
This has necessitated the appointment of a new Chief Justice.
Pursuant to Section 174 (3) of the Constitution the President of the Republic is required to appoint the Chief Justice after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and leaders of parties represented in the National Assembly.
I have today, 16 August 2011, initiated the process of consultation by addressing letters to political parties represented in the National Assembly as well as the JSC, advising them of my nomination of Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng as my preferred candidate for the position of Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa.
Justice Mogoeng, who was appointed to the Constitutional Court in 2009, brings several years of experience in the legal profession including the judiciary. He was appointed a judge of the North West High Court in June 1997, Judge of the Labour Appeal Court in April 2000 and in October 2002 he became the Judge President of the North West High Court.
He has demonstrated his expertise and keen interest in the transformation of the judiciary and the promotion of access to justice for all, by being part of, and also leading programmes and activities designed to promote court efficiency and transformation.
He was a member of a five member committee, led by former Chief Justice Pius Langa, which investigated allegations of racism and gender discrimination within the Judiciary. He has also organised workshops for judges and magistrates on leadership and sensitivity training as well as workshops for magistrates on judgment writing and trial administration.
In his capacity as the Chairperson of the North West Provincial Caseflow Management Forum, he hosted annual conferences attended by key role players in the justice system.
These conferences addressed issues such as the efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system, restorative justice and non-custodial sentences, access to quality justice and building the capacity of intermediaries and probation officers.
In January 2009, Justice Mogoeng and Judge Andre Davis, Judge of the Federal District Court for the District of Maryland, USA, co-hosted a series of workshops on judicial case management throughout South Africa. He now chairs the Caseflow Management Committee, which reports to the Chief Justice and the Heads of Courts. In this capacity, he led the team that organised the groundbreaking Access to Justice Conference, which was held from 8 to 10 July 2011.
Justice Mogoeng was nominated by the Judges President to represent them in the Council of the South African Judicial Education Institute in 2009.
BRIEF PROFILE
Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng was born in Goo-Mokgatha (Koffiekraal) village, which is located north east of Zeerust, on 14 January 1961.
Education
In 1983, Justice Mogoeng graduated from the University of Zululand with a B Juris. In 1985 he completed his LLB at the University of Natal, Durban. In 1989, he completed his studies at the University of South Africa, where he studied an LLM concentrating on labour law, the law of property, the law of insurance, the law of evidence and the law of criminal procedure.
Professional history
Justice Mogoeng started his professional career as a Supreme Court (now High Court) prosecutor in Mafikeng, holding this position between March 1986 to February 1990, when he resigned to do pupillage at the Johannesburg Bar.
After completing pupillage, he practised as an advocate in Johannesburg until the end of 1991. He then terminated his membership of the Johannesburg Bar and immediately became a member of the Mafikeng Bar Association (now known as North West Bar Association) until May 1997.
Whilst at the Mafikeng Bar, Justice Mogoeng served as the Deputy Chairperson of the Bar Council and as the Chairperson of the Bophuthatswana chapter of Lawyers for Human Rights. He was also a part-time senior lecturer in criminal law and criminal procedure at the University of the North West, Mafikeng Campus, from 1992 to 1993.
He was a member of the Industrial Court from 1989 until it ceased to exist. In 1994 he served in the legal section of the Independent Electoral Commission in the North West province.
In June 1997 he was appointed a judge of the North West High Court, Mafikeng. He was appointed as a judge of the Labour Appeal Court in April 2000. In October 2002 he was appointed Judge President of the North West High Court.
Other activities
Justice Mogoeng is an ordained pastor.
Prior to joining the judiciary in 1997, Mogoeng also served in the following capacities, all of which from which he has since resigned:
- Chairperson: North West Parks Board
- Chairperson: Agricultural Services Cooperation of the North West Province
- Chairperson: Agricultural College and the Agricultural School of the North West Province
- Chairperson: Agricultural Marketing Board of the North West Province
- Chairperson: Dirapeng (Pty) Ltd
- Chairperson: Golden Leopards Resorts (Pty) Ltd
- Member: Black Lawyers Association
Statement issued by the Presidency, August 16 2011
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