Statement on the President naming the Chief Justice designate, Judge Ngcobo

The Congress of the People is disturbed to learn of the President of the Republic's decision to name Judge Ngcobo as the Chief Justice designate.

While Ngcobo has a long legal career, the credentials and experience of the serving Deputy Chief Justice, Judge Moseneke, are impeccable. Judge Moseneke, a freedom fighter, has served time on Robben Island. He studied there and has demonstrated his ample skills and leadership working together with the current Chief Justice.

COPE is therefore concerned that what we have here is another political appointment, where the person best qualified for the job has been overlooked due to his independence and the fact that he has allegedly criticised an individual in the ruling party.

Along with more recent appointments, this one establishes a trend that anyone who has criticised the President of the country will not hold any office in a government or independent institution.

This trend leads only one way; downhill. We urge the President to reconsider this decision for the good of the country.

Statement issued by COPE national spokesperson, Phillip Dexter, August 6 2009

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