EX-CJ’S run for top job ‘a mistake’, say experts
THE ALL African Alliance Movement (AAAM) has endorsed former chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng as its president, however, political analysts say this is not a clever move.
According to University of Western Cape political expert Professor Bheki Mngomezulu, Mogoeng’s choice to move into politics was not an ideal step, given that he was a former South African judge.
“Whoever advised him was wrong.
Since Mogoeng is a former judge, he should not be involved in the first place. This will kill his entire career. Should he decide to go the political route, he will no longer be included in cases that require retired judges. He knows that judges are not supposed to be part and parcel of any kind of politics,” said Mngomezulu.
Siyabonga Ntombela, a University of Kwazulu-natal political analyst, said there was a growing trend of bureaucrats who tended to open up their own political parties with the intention of solving South African issues.
“The first thing that should be in question is what did they do when they were in their formal positions, and what contribution did they make? Now, Judge Mogoeng was the former chief justice.
“What did he do? Looking at the political party he was endorsed in, it only caters for Africans, leaving the rest alienated,” he said.
Ntombela said it was a good move for the public, but was not favourable for the former chief justice.
Political analyst Ralph Mathekga said it was Mogoeng’s decision to join
the political domain, citing it as unusual.
“It is the former chief justice’s decision to add politics to his CV, which definitely comes with greater risk for a retired judge, and it is not something we see quite often,” he added.
In an official statement, the party said it would be contesting the 2024 election.
“Our main objective is to reclaim South Africa from wrong hands, inspire hope and aspirations for how this country should be. All formations in this movement, including the electorate, have a huge task to turn around fortunes and give AAAM a mandate to govern in 2024 and to discharge its fundamental task,” said the statement.
Bishop Mishark Tebe, the movement’s secretary-general, had previously told the Sunday Tribune that the electorate was desperate for good leadership, hence Mogoeng was chosen as one.
Tebe had also mentioned that the movement was purely based on anyone who delivers. Attempts to get a comment from Mogoeng were unsuccessful.