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The 11 judges of the Constitutional Court are independent. They cannot be members of Parliament, of the government or of political parties. They are required to be impartial and to uphold justice for all without fear, favour or prejudice.
Sections 174 to 178 of the Constitution deal with the appointment of judicial officers. First, the Judicial Service Commission draws up a list of candidates that must have three more names than the number of vacancies. The Commission does this after calling for nominations and holding public interviews.
Then the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice and the leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly, chooses the judges from this selection.
The judges ordinarily serve for a non-renewable term of between 12 and 15 years.
The first judges were appointed in 1994. Read about the selection of the first judges here.
Read about what it is like to be a Constitutional Court Judge.
Media Release:
JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION
PROCEDURES FOR SHORTLISTING, INTERVIEWING AND RECOMMENDING CANDIDATES FOR JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT
AND REGARDING BREACHES OF MEMBERS’ DUTIES OF CONFIDENTIALITY, LAW AND ETHICAL STANDARDS
Media Statement for JSC Criteria
Summary and Explaination of the criteria and guidlines used by JSC:When considering candidates for judicial appoitment
Erratum
On Tuesday, 5 May 2026, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) published a Notice in the media calling for nominations of interested persons to fill in vacancies in various superior courts. The Notice omitted to advise that for the one vacancy of a non-judge member advertised in the Electoral Court, candidates for this position should be South African citizens who are in the legal profession. In addition, the two advertised Land Court vacancies, candidates for these positions must be persons who, by reason of their training and experience, have expertise in the field of land rights matters.
The JSC hereby advises that the Notice is accordingly amended to reflect these additions. All nominations must reach the Secretariat of the JSC by no later than Friday, 5 June 2026.
JUDICIAL VACANCIES: 05 May 2026
Media Release : Shortlisted cadidates for Judicial Appointment - Scheduled Interviews 13 -17 April 2026
Media Release : Shortlisted cadidates for Judicial Appointment - Reminder
Media Release : Shortlisted cadidates for Judicial Appointment Constitutional Court - Reminder
Media Release : Independent Electoral Commission Interviews, 21 - 22 July 2025
Media Release : Shortlisted Candidates for Judicial Appointment - Constitutional Court
Media Release : Shortlisted Candidates for Judicial Appointment
Judicial Service Commisssion media statement
Shortlisted Candidates for Judicial Appointment - 25 July 2025
Media Release : Shortlisted cadidates for three Electoral Commission Vacancies
Judicial Service Commission media statement 12 May 2025 : Judicial Vacancies
Judicial Service Commission Shortlisted Candidates for Judicial Appointment
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) invites nominations to fill vacancies of Judges in the following Courts:
Media Statement for JSC Criteria
Summary and Explaination of the criteria and guidlines used by JSC:When considering candidates for judicial appoitment
Competition Appeal, Court Electoral Court & Labour Court
NB Dear Patrons: please be informed, where profile is not hyperlinked the judges CV has not been provided to the library section for update
Current : Acting judges
- Acting Justice Basson (2026)
- Acting Justice Nuku (2026)
- Acting Justice Le Grange (2026)
- Acting Justice Tembeka Ngcukaitobi (2026)
| Previous Acting Justices | Period Acted:From | to |
| Acting Justice Savage | 2025 | 2025 |
| Acting Justice Dambuza | 2013 2025 |
2014 2025 |
| Acting Justice Musi Cagnay John | 2025 | 2025 |
| Acting Justice Goosen | 2025 | 2025 |
| Acting Justice Opperman | 2025 | 2025 |
| Acting Justice Tolmay | 2024 | 2024 |
| Acting Justice Seegobin | 2024 | 2024 |
| Acting Justice Dodson | 2024 | 2024 |
| Acting Justice Bilchitz | 2024 | 2024 |
| Acting Justice Chaskalson | 2024 | 2024 |
| Acting Justice Potterill | Feb 2023 | May 2023 |
| Acting Justice Makgoka | Feb 2023 | May 2023 |
| Acting Justice Van Zyl | Feb 2023 Sept 2023 |
Nov 2023 Dec 2023 |
| Acting Justice Mbatha | Aug 2022 | Dec 2022 |
| Acting Justice Baqwa | 2022 | 2022 |
| Acting Justice David Unterhalter | Feb 2022 May 2022 |
Mar 2022 Jul 2022 |
| Acting Justice Dustan Mlambo | 2022 | 2022 |
| Acting Justice Pule Tlaletsi | 2021 | 2021 |
| Acting Justice Madodo | 2021 | 2021 |
| Acting Justice Pillay | 2021 | 2021 |
| Acting Justice Rogers | 2021 | 2021 |
| Acting Justice Ledwaba | Jan 2019 | Jun 2019 |
| Acting Justice Mathopo | Aug 2019 Feb 2020 |
Nov 2019 Nov 2020 |
| Acting Justice Nicholls | Feb 2019 | Jun 2019 |
| Acting Justice Victor | 2019 | 2019 |
| Acting Justice Basson | Jul 2018 | Dec 2018 |
| Acting Justice Cachalia | Feb 2018 | Dec 2018 |
| Acting Justice Ndlodlo | Jan 2018 | Dec 2018 |
| Acting Justice Goliath | Feb 2018 | Dec 2018 |
| Acting Justice Kathree-Setiloane | Jun 2017 | Dec 2017 |
| Acting Justice Petse | 2018 | 2018 |
| Acting Justice Zondo | 2018 | 2018 |
| Acting Justce Kollapen | Jul 2017 | Dec 2017 |
| Acting Justice Mojapelo | 2017 | 2017 |
| Acting Justice Pretorious | 2017 | 2017 |
| Acting Justice Mbha | Aug 2016 | Nov 2016 |
| Acting Justice Musi | Aug 2016 | Dec 2016 |
| Acting Justice Jappie | 2015 | 2015 |
| Acting Justice Molemela | Feb 2015 | May 2015 |
| Acting Justice Theron | Feb 2015 | Sep 2015 |
| Acting Justice Wallis | Jul 2015 | Sep 2015 |
| <Acting Justice Matojane | 2015 | - |
| Acting Justice Majiedt | Jan 2014 | May 2014 |
| Acting Justice Tshiqi | Nov 2014 | Mar 2015 |
| Acting Justice Leeuw | Aug 2014 | Dec 2014 |
| Acting Justice Bosielo | May 2013 & | Jun 2023 |
| Acting Justice Mhlanhla | Jan 2013 | Dec 2013 |
| Acting Justice Maya | 2011 | Dec 2011 |
| Acting Justice Mthiyane | 2011 | 2011 |
| Acting Justice Brand | 2010 | - |
| Acting Justice Kroon | Mar 2008 | 2008 |
| Acting Justice Mpati | Jun 2007 | Nov 2007 |
| Acting Justice Jafta | Dec 2007 | May 2008 |
| Acting Justice Navsa | Feb 2007 | May 2007 |
| Acting Justice Kodile | 2006 | 2006 |
| Acting Justice Van Heerden | 2006 | - |
| Acting Justice Du Plessis | 2002 | 2002 |
| Acting Justice Skweyiya | Aug 2001 | May 2002 |
| Acting Justice Somyalo | 2001 | 2001 |
| Acting Justice Madlanga | 2000 | 2001 |
| Acting Justice Cameron | 1999 | 2000 |
| Acting Justice Kentridge | 1995 | 1996 |
| Acting Justice Ngoepe | Aug 1995 | Sep 1995 |
| Acting Justice Trengove | 1995 | 1995 |