The President of the KZNLS (left), Lunga Peter, welcomed delegates, while the Chairperson of the Attorneys Fidelity Fund, Nonduduzo Khanyile-Kheswa, was the programme director.

By Mapula Thebe

The KwaZulu-Natal Law Society (KZNLS) in liaison with the office of the Premier KwaZulu-Natal held a celebratory dinner to acknowledge the appointment of Justice Mjabuliseni Isaac Madondo as Deputy Judge President of the KwaZulu-Natal High Court and the appointment to the judiciary of Judge Pieter Bezuidenhout and Judge Thokozile Masipa. The dinner, held on 22 July, was well attended by representatives from the judiciary, KZNLS and the premier’s office.

The President of the KZNLS, Lunga Peter, welcomed delegates, while the Chairperson of the Attorneys Fidelity Fund, Nonduduzo Khanyile-Kheswa, was the programme director. Delivering his address, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Willies Mchunu, said that his office saw it fit to congratulate Deputy Judge President Madondo on his appointment. Mr Mchunu added that the importance of the role of judges in the country was one that needed to be highlighted.

‘On behalf of government, to all the new justices that are now on the Bench, I say congratulations. We look forward to the interactions that will happen between the two arms of the state. Justice Madondo has come a long way before he was appointed as Deputy Judge President. Some of those who have undermined Justice Madondo are surely now seeing his worth. Democracy has an important role to play to ensure a balance between the past and the present. Justice Madondo will have all the support he needs to fulfil his role as Deputy Judge President,’ Mr Mchunu concluded.

Judge President of the KwaZulu-Natal Division, Achmat Jappie’s speech focused on giving advice to the appointed judges.

Judge President of the KwaZulu-Natal Division, Achmat Jappie’s speech focused on giving advice to the appointed judges. Justice Jappie noted that the job of a judge is to do what others avoid doing, which is making decisions that are difficult at times. He added that recent developments of enabling the media to live record proceedings of court have put the decisions of judges on the spotlight.

‘Judges should not be surprised; people will run to the appeals court to appeal decisions. Whatever you do as a judge will make an immense impact on society. … As far as I am concerned there is no better job than being a judge,’ Justice Jappie noted.

Speaking on the importance of the relationship between the judiciary and the KZNLS, KZNLS council member Praveen Sham said that attorneys assist the judiciary at times by being acting judges to ensure a smooth running of the court systems. ‘This is something that is essential for the public at large. The KwaZulu-Natal Law Society acknowledges what the judiciary has done, and continues to do for the public,’ Mr Sham added.

Deputy Judge President Madondo expressed his gratitude to have been seen to be fit to be appointed as the Deputy Judge President and that the KZNLS and government organised an event to acknowledge his appointment.

Speaking on behalf of the newly appointed judges, Justice Madondo expressed his gratitude to have been seen to be fit to be appointed as the Deputy Judge President and that the KZNLS and government organised an event to acknowledge his appointment. Justice Madondo said that the job of a judge is to ensure justice is conveyed on the citizens, especially the vulnerable. ‘Justice needs to be seen as effective and efficient. Justice is the resolution of civil disputes and the prosecution, conviction and sentencing of those who have committed crimes,’ Justice Madondo added.

Justice Madondo noted that he has a vision of change for the division he will be presiding over and hopes that others, in the division, will be able to follow his vision.

Mapula Thebe NDip Journ (DUT) BTech (Journ) (TUT) editor of De Rebus.

This article was first published in De Rebus in 2016 (Sept) DR 7.