Constitutional Court candidates grilled

By Khanyisa Tabata
20 September 2009


The Judicial Service Commission has started interviewing nine candidates for Constitutional Court positions.

The candidates include President Jacob Zuma's nomination for chief justice, Sandile Ngcobo, and controversial Western Cape High Court Judge President John Hlophe.

The appointment of four new judges will constitute the largest shake-up of the Constitutional Court since its formation in 1994.

The interviews in Soweto come as critics of the JSC have accused it of letting Hlophe off the hook by failing to investigate whether he tried to interfere with cases relating to Zuma.

Judge Ngcobo’s interview began at 9am and he is likely to face questions about his time on the Constitutional Court and about how he will heal division in the judiciary.