September 22 2009

Judge Sisi Khampepe told the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) that the overall objective of the Constitution is to give legitimacy to the judiciary, which is relevant since the judiciary was in the past seen as an extension of Government.

Khampepe was addressing the JSC as one of the candidates for appointment to the Constitutional Court. She added that transformation is a far more complex issue than race and gender

The JSC continues with interviews for four posts on the Constitutional Court bench today. Yesterday, a total of 9 judges were questioned about their work experience and what they can bring to the highest court in the land.

Non-racial bench

During the last interviews of the day, Chairperson of the Legal Aid Board, Justice Dunstan Mlambo, said that transformation should not become a simple numbers game.

North West Judge President Mogoeng wa Mogoeng said the judiciary was not performing as efficiently as it should. He added that the system should be improved rapidly for the benefit of the country. Cape Judge Dennis Davis said he believed a non-racial bench was important.

The JSC is expected to conclude the interviews today.

sabcnews