The judge presiding over the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial may be placed on suspension over the delay to deliver judgments.

This comes after the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) advised President Cyril Ramaphosa to place Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela and Judge Nomonde Mngqibisa-Thusi of the Gauteng Division of the High Court on suspension pending the outcome of the tribunal process in the complaints raised involving the two judges.

 

 

In a statement, JSC spokeswoman Advocate Sesi Baloyi said at their meetings on 26 January and Thursday, 20 April, the JSC considered the reports of the Judicial Conduct Committee relating to the complaints against Maumela and Mngqibisa-Thusi relating to the failure to deliver numerous reserved judgments.

She said the JSC decided that the failure to deliver the reserved judgments, if established, will indicate incapacity, gross incompetence, or gross misconduct on the part of the judges, considering the extent of the delay and the prejudice suffered by the parties.

“The JSC has decided to request, in terms of Section 19 of the Judicial Service Commission Act, 1994 (JSC Act), that the chief justice appoint a Judicial Conduct Tribunal (tribunal) to consider the complaints and will, in terms of Section 19(4) of the JSC Act, advise the president of its decision.

“Due to the seriousness of the complaints, the JSC has also decided to advise the president that it is desirable that Judges Maumela and Mngqibisa-Thusi be placed on suspension pending the outcome of the tribunal processes with certain conditions, including that the judges must, during the period of suspension, finalize all matters that are presently before them,” she said