JSC preparing to grill candidates for position of chief justice, deputy presidency of SCA

JOHANNESBURG - With the window for public comment on the appointment for Chief Justice now closed, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) will now prepare for interviews.

Thursday was the last day for comments on the suitability of candidates for the position at the apex court and deputy president of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has given the nod to Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya and Justice Dumisani Zondi for the positions respectively.

The president may have recommended both Maya and Zondi but both must still appear for an interview before the Judicial Service Commission.

Researcher at Judges Matter, Mbekezeli Benjamin, said this would be an opportunity for Judge Maya to detail her vision for the judiciary.

"As Judges Matter, we have often raised concerns about the complicated and ineffective governance and administration of the courts and the whole judiciary, we have also worried about how slow the process of disciplining judges is. We hope she will speak to some of those issues."

The JSC will read the public comments in preparation for the coming interviews.

Both Maya and Zondi will be interviewed on 21 May.