ANC WELCOMES CHIEF JUSTICE SANDILE NGCOBO'S DECISION

The African National Congress (ANC) welcomes the decision by Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo to decline the extension of his term of office by President Jacob Zuma on the grounds of safeguarding the integrity of the Office of the Chief Justice and the esteem in which it is held. We also welcome the acceptance by President Zuma of Chief Justice Ngcobo's decision, which will certainly go a long way to bring to an end any litigation and political rumblings - particularly from opposition benches.

Whilst we welcome the decision by the Chief Justice, we are of the opinion that President Zuma was firmly within his right to extend the term of office of Justice Ngcobo as informed by the legislation on the Renumeration of Judges.

These developments will now offer the President the opportunity to appoint a new chief justice and reaffirm the independence of the judiciary. We are also grateful that the appointment of the new chief justice will continue with the old tradition of the separation of powers between the Executive arm of State and the Judiciary - a very important constitutional principle.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC national spokesperson, July 27 2011

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