South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended two judges due to delays in the delivery of judgements throughout the country.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) confirmed that the president suspended the two judges after the commission recommended it in April.
According to section 177(3) of the country’s constitution, President Ramaphosa suspended TA Maumela and NP Mngqibisa-Thusi.
The clause grants the president the authority to suspend a judge on the advice of the country’s Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
On January 26, 2023, the JSC concurred with the Judicial Conduct Committee that there were reasonable grounds to suspect that the judges had delayed the delivery of a significant number of judgments.
“At its meeting on April 20, 2023, the Judicial Service Commission took the decision to advise the president to suspend Justice Maumela and Justice Mngqibisa-Thusi pending a tribunal process envisaged in section 19(1) of the Judicial Service Commission Act, 1994 (Act No.9 of 1994),” the JSC said in a statement.
The judges were suspended on the condition that they complete their part-heard cases.
As a result, the JSC asked Chief Justice Raymond Zondo to convene a tribunal to hear the complaints, and Mr Ramaphosa to suspend both judges pending the outcome of the tribunal procedure.
Mismob Media