News24 | Ramaphosa appoints Dunstan Mlambo as deputy chief justice

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Judge Dunstan Mlambo as deputy chief justice, effective Friday.

• President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Judge Dunstan Mlambo as deputy chief justice, and his term is set to start on Friday.
• Mlambo is taking over the reins from Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, who retired from the bench on Thursday, but will chair an inquiry into police corruption linked to criminal syndicates.
• Ramaphosa wished Mlambo well “in strengthening the rule of law, enriching jurisprudence and asserting the rights of all citizens.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed respected Judge Dunstan Mlambo as deputy chief justice.

The Presidency made the announcement on Thursday evening, hours after the Constitutional Court held a farewell ceremony for Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, on what would be his last day on the bench. Mlambo’s term will start on Friday.

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Madlanga cannot, however, enjoy his retirement just yet. He will chair a commission of inquiry into allegations that the police have been captured by criminal syndicates, constituted by Ramaphosa in the wake of KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s bombshell allegations.

Earlier this month, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) recommended Mlambo, the long-serving Gauteng High Court judge president, for the position.

He has previously been overlooked for the apex court during politicised JSC hearings.

“President Ramaphosa has in writing informed Chief Justice Mandisa Maya that in appointing Justice Mlambo, the president has considered the views of the Judicial Service Commission and the views of political parties represented in the National Assembly,” read a statement from the Presidency.

“The president has also expressed his appreciation to the chief justice for the JSC’s transparent, inclusive and robust process.

“This process exemplified the commission’s commitment to upholding the nation’s constitutional values.

“The commission had enhanced the nation’s confidence that the appointment of the deputy chief justice was firmly grounded on merit, fidelity to the Constitution and a vision for the continued transformation and strengthening of the judiciary.”

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Ramaphosa thanked Mlambo “for stepping forward to assume a new responsibility of critical national importance and wishes Justice Mlambo well in strengthening the rule of law, enriching jurisprudence and asserting the rights of all citizens”.