The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is a constitutional body established in terms of section 178 of the Constitution read with the Judicial Service Commission Act 9 of 1994.
The primary functions of the Judicial Service Commission are to:
- Interview candidates for judicial positions and make recommendations for appointment to the bench
- Deal with complaints brought against the Judges
- Manage the Register of Judges’ Registrable interests
- Advise national government on matters relating to the Judiciary in South Africa
When the Judicial Service Commission interviews candidates for judicial appointment, all the 23 members of the Judicial Service Commission, as well as the respective Premiers and Judges President of the respective Divisions of the High Court where the candidates have been nominated, participate in the interviews. All interviews for judicial appointment are conducted in public.
Following the conclusion of the interviews, the recommendations are sent to the President, who then appoints the recommended candidates as Judges.
Complaints against Judges who contravene the Code of Judicial Conduct or any law must first be reported to the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC), a body comprised of the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice and four other Judges designated by the Chief Justice after consultation with the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services.
If the Judicial Conduct Committee is of the view that the complaint lodged against a particular Judge is of a serious nature to warrant an impeachment of a Judge, the Judicial Conduct Committee is empowered to recommend to the Judicial Service Commission for the complaint to be investigated and reported on by a Judicial Conduct Tribunal. It is the Chief Justice who has the power to appoint a Judicial Conduct Tribunal following the recommendation by the Judicial Service Commission.
Judges are also required in terms of the law to disclose their financial interests annually. These disclosures are recorded in a Register that is managed by the Registrar of Judges’ Registrable Interests.
As members of the Judicial Service Commission act in other professional capacities, the Judicial Service Commission and its various committees meet biannually.
The Judicial Service Commission Secretariat is required to manage and facilitate the work of the Judicial Service Commission throughout the year and to liaise with various Judicial Service Commission committees on matters they are tasked to deal with by the Judicial Service Commission at its biannual meetings.
The Judicial Service Commission Secretariat is responsible for making all logistical arrangements, including collating agenda and all relevant documentation for all Judicial Service Commission meetings and financing the biannual meetings of the Judicial Service Commission, which take place for a week in April and October every year. The meetings are generally held at the Headquarters of the Office of the Chief Justice in Midrand.
Overseeing Department/Entity
Office Bearers/Management
Chief Justice
- Justice MML Maya
President Supreme Court of Appeal
- Judge Pres MB Molemela
Judge President
- Justice D Mlambo
Deputy Chief Justice
- Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga (Acting)
Commissioners
- Adv S Baloyi SC (Designated by the President)
- Adv G Breytenbach (National Assembly)
- Adv J Cane SC (Practicing Advocate)
- Mr N Gotsell (National Council of Provinces)
- Ms F Hassan (National Assembly)
- Mr MS Lekganyane (National Assembly)
- Mr JS Malema (National Assembly)
- Mr M Mangena (Practicing Attorney)
- Prof C Marumoagae (Professor of Law)
- Ms HK Matolo-Dlepu (Designated by the President)
- Mr MK Mmoiemang (National Council of Provinces)
- Ms R Mtshweni-Tsipane (National Council of Provinces)
- Adv T Ngcukaitobi SC (Designated by the President)
- Adv IM Nonkonyane (National Council of Provinces)
- Mr M Notyesi (Practicing Attorney)
- Adv K Pillay SC (Practicing Advocate)
- Ms NR Shabangu-Mndawe (Designated by the President)
- Mr RAP Trollip (National Assembly)
Senior Management
- Ms Kutlwano Moretlwe (Support Staff: Acting Senior State Law Advisor)
- Ms Tebogo Phaahlamohlaka (Support Staff: Senior Administrative Officer)
- Ms Memme Sejosengwe (Secretary General (DG): Office of the Chief Justice)
- Mr A Slingers (Secretary: Chief Justice)
- Ms Ndivhuwo Tshubwana (Law Researcher)
Communications Officers
- Ms Tshepiso Ramonyai (Personal Assistant: JSC)
Contact Details
The contact details of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) are listed in the table below.
| Physical Address: | Office of the Chief Justice, 188-14th Road, Noordwyk, 1687 |
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X1, Constitutional Hill, Braamfontein, 2017 |
| Telephone: | 010 493 2687/33 |
| Email: | jsc@judiciary.org.za |
| Website: | www.judiciary.org.za |
