Malema grills judge: ‘ why not give women a chance?’

Judge Zondi says Zuma chose him

Judge Raymond Zondi‚ who has spoken out about how women are not equally represented in the judiciary‚ was yesterday asked by EFF leader Julius Malema why he didn’t decline his nomination to the deputy chief justice position‚ and allow it to be given to a woman instead.

Malema is one of the commissioners interviewing candidates for the senior judicial position.

He questioned whether the appointment of a male candidate to the Deputy Chief Justice position would be “two step backwards” in gender transformation as currently a woman‚ Bess Nkabinde‚ was acting in the position.

Nkabinde’s 12-year term comes to an end on December 31‚ making her ineligible to permanently take up the post.

“Why didn’t you decline the nomination?” Malema asked .

“Commissioner Malema‚ I am here because the President [Jacob Zuma] wrote to the JSC and said that he is considering appointing me as Deputy Chief Justice.

“I don’t have the same information that the president had at his disposal in making the decision he made but when I was told that this board is required to give its views on me‚ I availed myself for the interview,” Zondi replied.

Earlier‚ Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng‚ who is chairing the interviews‚ declared that he and Zondi were friends‚ having met at university in 1981.

Malema‚ however‚ asked whether Zondi was not concerned about the perceptions that would arise if two friends were to head the highest court in the land.

Zondi said their friendship would not affect his integrity. –