South Africa's ruling elite are a nasty bunch. Chief amongst them is the Judicial Services Commission. Steeped in the language of transformation, non-racialism, justice, and democracy, its members negate the very essence of these values.
Their services are neither judicial nor just. They are the embodiment of racism and revenge if the disqualification of Advocate Jeremy Gauntlett is anything to go by. Rejected yet again for what he is best qualified to do, it should come as no surprise if he leaves this country and plies his impeccable credentials elsewhere.
To quote one of our leading judicial minds: "Gauntlett is the kind of adornment the bench could do with anywhere in the English-speaking world."
"Abrasive", "acerbic", "arrogant" are labels flung at a man who has proven to be one of SA's most astute legal minds. He also served for 14 years as a judge of appeal in Lesotho, and has much experience as an acting judge and arbitrator.
People who show character, who have a personality, and who are provocative are shunned for the bland, the boring and the uninspiring. At the close of sessions of the Court of Appeal of Lesotho in 2009, the President of the Court, Justice Ramodibedi, quoting Justice Steyn, his predecessor, said:
"Jeremy is just simply unique. His razor sharp intellect was unsurpassed by any Judicial Officer I sat with or appeared before over the last nearly 60 years. He would discern the true nature of the issues to be decided despite the best efforts of counsel to obscure these. Whilst he held firm views, he would be willing to yield to wiser counsel and although he did not tolerate unsubstantiated and speculative submission, he gave counsel every opportunity to put his case fairly before the Court. But beware if you were unnecessarily prolix in your submissions or sought repetition to give substance to the unarguable. His judgements will stand as beacons of excellence."