Law Society urges JSC to deal with allegations of racism expeditiously and transparently

10 May 2016

The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) joins other bodies in expressing its serious shock and concern at reports that have emerged regarding alleged racist comments made by North Gauteng High Court Judge Mabel Jansen a year ago. The context of the comments and the reason for the one-year delay in reporting these are unclear.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has confirmed that it has received a formal complaint and will deal with it in the prescribed manner.

The LSSA urges the JSC to deal with this matter expeditiously and in a transparent manner so as not to aggravate what is already an inflammatory and complex situation around the issues of racism in our country. ‘Racist comments as we have seen repeatedly this year – and more so from a judge – are polarising and traumatic for our society. Society demands an explanation,’ say LSSA Co-Chairpersons Jan van Rensburg and Mvuso Notyesi.

Issued on behalf of the co-chairpersons of the Law Society of South Africa, Jan van Rensburg and Mvuso Notyesi, 10 May 2016