Judge Thokozile Masipa is one of the most well-known judges in the world after presiding over the Oscar Pistorius murder trial.
However‚ before thinking about appointing her as judge president of the Limpopo High Court‚ the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) wanted to know what impact the backlash after the outcome of the Pistorius trial could have.
The JSC on Monday started its interviews in Cape Town of candidates for vacant judicial positions in courts around the country.
Commissioner Mathole Motshekga asked Masipa‚ who was interviewed late on Monday evening: “What will you do to ensure that the new court doesn’t start to deal with the negative image…don’t you think that that stigma will challenge the image of the new court and if it does‚ what will you do to ensure that the image of that court doesn’t suffer?”
Masipa said she did not think she had gained a negative image.
“I don’t think the criticism is about me but more about the outcome . I don’t think I am stigmatised… perhaps I am too naïve about that‚” Masipa said.
“Since Pistorius I have been given other cases. The counsel that have appeared before me still give me the same respect before and after.”
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng asked Masipa to explain how she deals with the attacks since she has “become a world-famous judge in this country”.
Masipa said: “A judge must respect criticism. It is not personal. When someone expressed their frustration you should just let them… judges have been attacked all over...we are not on the bench to please people or to win a popularity contest.”
But commissioner Mike Hellens strongly criticised Masipa’s leadership abilities. He questioned how Masipa could be a judge president of a court when she could not control the counsel in the Pistorius trial.
Other candidates vying for the position include Judge Francis Legodi and Judge Khami Makhafola.
During Legodi’s interview‚ concerns were expressed about his resignation from the Arms Procurement Commission and about his ability to juggle his various roles since he serves on other bodies like the Magistrates Commission.
Legodi said his resignation from the commission investigating claims of corruption in the Arms Deal was due to “personal reasons” which he had discussed with both the minister of justice and the president. He added that these personal reasons will not impact on him holding office as a judge president.
Makhafola was taken to task over various complaints made against him such as subjecting personnel to questioning or detaining them by an order of the court.
Leader of the Economic Freedom Figthers Julius Malema raised concerns that Makhafola was trying to mislead the commission.
The commission‚ which sat until midnight on Monday‚ will on Tuesday interview the remaining three out of the seven candidates vying for the position of Limpopo judge president.
On Monday‚ the sole candidate for the KwaZulu-Natal judge president position‚ Judge Achmat Jappie‚ was recommended for the position.
The commission is scheduled to also interview judges competing for two positions at the Supreme Court of Appeal later on Tuesday. — Tiso Black Star Group Courts and Law