Chief Justice in the ‘hot seat’ at UKZN
Mogoeng Mogoeng takes over at Westville, gives SA advice
CHIEF Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng called for “brutal introspection” in South Africa’s public discourse, saying this would propel narratives past mere criticism of challenges, to solutions. He was speaking at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Westville campus in Durban, where he was officially being installed as chancellor.
Delivering his speech before the university’s academia, members of the judiciary, politicians and others, Judge Mogoeng called on South Africans to not simply criticise but to find solutions to help the country reach its constitutional objectives.
In a wide-ranging off-the-cuff address, Judge Mogoeng touched on the need for better leadership training, the need to deliver education to all and for fairness in decision-making.
“Our constitutional project is building a united South Africa. There is a South Africa committed to the improvement of the quality of life of every citizen. The challenge is how do we go about doing that?”
He said the narratives being peddled in public discourse could “only serve as further entrenching divisions in South Africa”.
The “suspicious nature” of discourse in South Africa had also led to people being viewed with suspicion even when their views were consistent with the constitution, he said.
The previous chancellor was Dr Zweli Mkhize, treasurer of the ANC. Shortly after robing Judge Mogoeng, Mkhize told the chief justice: “You can take the hot seat now.” – African News Agency /ANA