POLITICS

JSC extends judicial vacancy nomination deadline

Commission makes decision in light of number of nominations received thus far

JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION

MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT JUDICIAL VACANCIES

Kindly note that in light of the number of nominations received, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has decided to extend the date for nominations to fill the vacancies listed below to Friday 17 February 2012. 

The JSC invites nominations to fill vacancies as Judges in the following Courts: 

1. Constitutional Court 

One vacancy

2. Supreme Court of Appeal

Two vacancies

3. Eastern Cape High Court (Bhisho)

One vacancy

4. Electoral Court

One vacancy

Candidates for this vacancy should be judges who are in active service.

5. KwaZulu-Natal High Court

One vacancy for Deputy Judge President

6. Northern Cape High Court

One vacancy 

7. North and South Gauteng High Court

One vacancy for Judge President 

The successful candidate for this vacancy will be appointed as Judge President by the President with effect from 1 November 2012.

Six vacancies for Judges

Three of the successful candidates for these six vacancies will be seconded from the North and South Gauteng High Court to the Land Claims Court in terms of section 26A of the Restitution of Land Act, 1994 as amended. In addition to the normal qualifications for appointment to the High Court, special attention will, in respect of the three candidates, be paid to the knowledge and experience with land law within the jurisdiction of the Land Claims Court.

Nominations must be accompanied by the candidate's written consent, detailed curriculum vitae disclosing the candidate's formal qualifications for appointment, the standard questionnaire completed and signed by the candidate, as well as copies of at least three written judgments by the candidate. The standard questionnaire to be completed by all nominees is available on the Constitutional Court website www.constitutionalcourt.org.za.

The JSC reserves the right to recommend a candidate for the filling of any vacancy which may exist at the time of the interviews. This is to avoid the situation which has arisen in the past when, despite the availability of suitable candidates, no appointments could be made to fill vacancies which had occurred subsequent to the notice calling for nominations. Consequently, in making nominations, regard should be had to the possibility that more judicial vacancies may occur than have been advertised.

The Secretariat wishes to emphasize the following points: 

1. Interviews with short-listed candidates will be conducted in public, i.e. members of the public and the media (both electronic and print) will be entitled to be present. 

2. It is open to persons or bodies nominating candidates to motivate their nominations by referring the JSC to the candidate's qualifications and general fitness for appointment.

3. The questionnaire must be accompanied by the standardized "clearance certificate" which the candidate is required to obtain from his/her professional body regarding the candidate's professional status within that body, his or her suitability for appointment to the Bench and the nature of any disciplinary proceedings completed or pending in respect of the relevant candidate.

4. Nominations must be addressed to and reach the Secretariat of the JSC not later than Friday 17 February 2012 at 16h00. The JSC will not consider any nomination received after the abovementioned date. 

The date and venue for the interviews will be communicated to candidates in due course. 
Applications must be addressed to:

The Secretariat of the JSC 
Constitutional Court 
Private Bag Xl 
Constitution Hill 
Braamfontein 
2017 
Tel: (011) 838 201912015: Fax2Email: 086 649 0944 
Email: Chiloaneconcourt.orq.za alternatively Dubeconcourt.org.za. 

Statement issued by Sello Chiloane, Secretariat: Judicial Service Commission, February 7 2012 

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