Issued by the SACP
6 August 2009
The SACP welcomes the announcement made today by the President Zuma on the appointment of Justice Sandile Ngcobo as Chief Justice. This appointment is necessitated by the retirement of the current Chief Justice, Pius Langa, who is due to retires in October.
The SACP would like to take this opportunity to wish Justice Langa well in his retirement. In his time the Chief Justice was a respected member of the bench and carried out his tasks with diligence.
Justice Ngcobo has distinguished himself as a reputable Judge and a scholar of high note in the field of law. He is broadminded in his application of law and yet at the same time passionate to find truth and or facts. These qualities place him at the pole position in undertaking the task to radically transform the judiciary in favor of the working class and the poor and affirm the rights of victims of crime.
The majority of our people out there desperately yearn for a transformed judiciary, farm workers who are evicted on a daily basis and their families’ loose loved ones due to racial killings want a judicial system that cares about their rights and not those who have money. The courts must be made accessible and there must be holistic improvements of the other services like translation and the time it takes to conclude cases.
We wish Justice Ngcobo well as he undertakes the huge responsibility facing us and helping us to navigate through the ongoing transformation process.
Contact:
Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson – 082 226 1802