chief justice Sisi Khampepe constitutional court judge zuma latest JSC

Acting Chief Justice Sisi Khampepe. Photo: Twitter

Sisi Khampepe: Acting Chief Justice to resign following historic Zuma ruling

How’s THAT for a parting gift? Acting Chief Justice Khampepe is set to vacate her position in the judiciary later this year.

chief justice Sisi Khampepe constitutional court judge zuma latest JSC

Acting Chief Justice Sisi Khampepe. Photo: Twitter

Hours after Acting Chief Justice Sisi Khampepe delivered one of the most prolific Constitutional Court judgements in the history of democratic South Africa on Tuesday, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) confirmed that her position is up for grabs when she leaves the Judiciary later this year. 

Khampepe sent the South African public into a frenzy on Tuesday morning when she found former President Jacob Zuma guilty of contempt of court and sentenced him to 15-months direct imprisonment, but it appears as though that will be her parting gift to the country before she vacates her post. 

JSC confirm Khampepe, Jafta departures  

The JSC said in a statement that two Constitutional Court vacancies will be occasioned by the impending discharge from active service of Justices Khampepe and Chris Jafta in October this year, and advertised them to prospective applicants. 

“Nominations must be accompanied by the candidate’s written consent, detailed curriculum vitae disclosing the candidate’s formal qualifications for appointment,, the standard questionnaire completed and signed by the candidate,, as well as copies of at least three written judgments by the candidate,” they said. 

Khampepe was named as acting Chief Justice while her superior, Mogoeng Mogoeng, continues to take leave. Mogoeng vacated his position temporarily in May this year in line with Judiciary mandated policy. Rumours had emerged that he was in fact set to vacate his position entirely, but the JSC dispelled these. 

Parting gift  

Meanwhile, Khampepe will no doubt leave with her decision to put Zuma behind bars as her definitive legacy, having served on the judiciary as a Constitutional Court judge since 2009. 

She was appointed by former President Mandela as a TRC Commissioner in 1995, subsequently acting as a member of the TRC’s Amnesty Committee. She was then employed by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development as Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions, a post she held from September 1998 to December 1999.

She was appointed as a Judge in the High Court in 2000, and in 2005 Khampepe was appointed to chair the Commission of Enquiry into the mandate and location of the Directorate of Special Operation (the Khampepe Commission) by former President Thabo Mbeki.