Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng failed to find the humour when Eastern Cape Deputy Judge President tried to light-heartedly brush off allegations that judges in some courts arrived at work at 11am.
Deputy Judge President Zamani Nhlangulela was being interviewed for the Judge President position.
“I don’t have that experience of judges arriving in court at 11‚” Nhlangulela told the Judicial Services Commission which is conducting the interviews.
“I only have two eyes. If only I had 10 eyes‚ I would know so now I am relying on being told‚” said Nhlangulela‚ adding that he hadn’t been informed of such a problem.
Another commissioner said the issue had been reported in the media but Nhlangulela maintained that he had never received complaints based on this.
He claimed he was doing his best to resolve all issues in the courts and he was happy with his progress.
“Personally I am happy. Even if you don’t give me credit‚ I am happy. I can sleep at night with my family‚” Nhlangulela replied.
A seemingly displeased Mogoeng replied: “I have a problem in the manner in which you make light of serious things and these are serious things that affect the judiciary… You are there making jokes of things which discredit the judiciary”.
Nhlangulela then toned down his responses and apologised.
He has been the Deputy President of the Eastern Cape High Court since 2016. He had acted in the position since 2015.
Earlier‚ Mogoeng called on him to brag about what he had achieved since he took on the position.
Nhlangulela responded that he had managed to unite the judges and improve the turnaround time in the delivery of the judgments.
But when prodded to give numbers‚ he did not have the statistics.
Mogoeng was surprised‚ saying he himself was abreast of such issues in the Constitutional Court which he was in charge of it.
“It is my job to know. I live it‚” Mogoeng said.
Nhlangulela is one of four candidates who is vying for the Judge President post.
The JSC is expected to recommend one of the candidates to President Jacob Zuma for consideration. — Tiso Black Star Group Digital
Mogoeng not amused by Eastern Cape judge’s jokes
Deputy Judge President Zamani Nhlangulela was being interviewed for the Judge President position.
“I don’t have that experience of judges arriving in court at 11‚” Nhlangulela told the Judicial Services Commission which is conducting the interviews.
“I only have two eyes. If only I had 10 eyes‚ I would know so now I am relying on being told‚” said Nhlangulela‚ adding that he hadn’t been informed of such a problem.
Another commissioner said the issue had been reported in the media but Nhlangulela maintained that he had never received complaints based on this.
He claimed he was doing his best to resolve all issues in the courts and he was happy with his progress.
“Personally I am happy. Even if you don’t give me credit‚ I am happy. I can sleep at night with my family‚” Nhlangulela replied.
A seemingly displeased Mogoeng replied: “I have a problem in the manner in which you make light of serious things and these are serious things that affect the judiciary… You are there making jokes of things which discredit the judiciary”.
Nhlangulela then toned down his responses and apologised.
He has been the Deputy President of the Eastern Cape High Court since 2016. He had acted in the position since 2015.
Earlier‚ Mogoeng called on him to brag about what he had achieved since he took on the position.
Nhlangulela responded that he had managed to unite the judges and improve the turnaround time in the delivery of the judgments.
But when prodded to give numbers‚ he did not have the statistics.
Mogoeng was surprised‚ saying he himself was abreast of such issues in the Constitutional Court which he was in charge of it.
“It is my job to know. I live it‚” Mogoeng said.
Nhlangulela is one of four candidates who is vying for the Judge President post.
The JSC is expected to recommend one of the candidates to President Jacob Zuma for consideration. — Tiso Black Star Group Digital
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