Zondo confident of new challenge
APPOINTMENT: CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY ‘GOOD’ ➽ ‘One has opportunity to serve the people in a very special way.’
New Chief Justice Raymond Zondo says a constitutional democracy is “good for our country”. This on the back of a reported call by KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala for South Africa to adopt a parliamentary democracy instead. Zikalala is said to have made the comments while addressing a Human Rights Day event in Ixopo on Monday, and lamenting the Constitutional Court’s reversal of decisions taken by Cabinet.
But asked about the comments at a briefing yesterday, Zondo said there was “a good reason” the current system was decided on.
“Everyone is entitled to have their view about our constitutional dispensation. But all the power that the judiciary has is power that has been given to it by the constitution,” Zondo said.
The briefing was called in response to what the Office of the Chief Justice said had been a flood of interview requests, following the announcement of Zondo’s appointment – which takes effect from 1 April – earlier this month.
Following former chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng’s retirement last October, President Cyril Ramaphosa made a call for public nominations for his successor.
Four nominees were interviewed by Judicial Service Commission (JSC). They were Zondo, Supreme Court of Appeal Judge President Mandisa Maya, Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and Gauteng High Court Judge President Dunstan Mlambo.
While the interview process was mired in controversy and culminated in the contentious announcement that the JSC was making a recommendation (which Ramaphosa has since described as beyond its remit) that Maya get the top post, the constitution ultimately gives the president the final say.
The statement issued earlier this month announcing Zondo’s appointment did, however, also indicate Ramaphosa’s plans to nominate Maya as deputy chief justice.
Asked about how he would work with the JSC – considering it had not recommended him – Zondo said he had every confidence that there would be “100% cooperation and respect for everyone”.
Zondo described his appointment as “a special honour”.
“It gives one an opportunity to serve the people in a very special way. So I felt quite honoured and privileged by the appointment,” he said.