Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has nominated Judge Mogoeng Mogoeng as chief justice to replace former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo, whose term of office ended on Sunday.
"I have today, 16 August 2011, initiated the process of consultation by addressing letters to political parties represented in the National Assembly as well as the JSC, advising them of my nomination of Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng as my preferred candidate for the position of Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa," Zuma said in a statement on Tuesday.
He said Justice Mogoeng, who was appointed to the Constitutional Court in 2009, brings several years of experience in the legal profession, including the judiciary. He was appointed a judge of the North West High Court in June 1997, Judge of the Labour Appeal Court in April 2000 and in October 2002, he became the Judge President of the North West High Court.
"He has demonstrated his expertise and keen interest in the transformation of the judiciary and the promotion of access to justice for all, by being part of, and also leading programmes and activities designed to promote court efficiency and transformation," said Zuma.
He was a member of a five-member committee, led by former Chief Justice Pius Langa, which investigated allegations of racism and gender discrimination within the Judiciary. He had also organised workshops for judges and magistrates on leadership and sensitivity training as well as workshops for magistrates on judgment writing and trial administration.
In his capacity as the Chairperson of the North West Provincial Caseflow Management Forum, he hosted annual conferences attended by key role players in the justice system.
These conferences addressed issues such as the efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system, restorative justice and non-custodial sentences, access to quality justice and building the capacity of intermediaries and probation officers.
In January 2009, Mogoeng and Andre Davis, Judge of the Federal District Court for the District of Maryland, USA, co-hosted a series of workshops on judicial case management throughout South Africa.
Mogoeng now chairs the Caseflow Management Committee, which reports to the Chief Justice and the Heads of Courts. In this capacity, he led the team that organised the groundbreaking Access to Justice Conference, which was held from 8 - 10 July 2011.
Justice Mogoeng was nominated by the Judges President to represent them in the Council of the South African Judicial Education Institute in 2009.
