<\/p>\n
Former president Jacob Zuma has filed his supplementary affidavits with the courts in the high-stakes legal battle to have the April 2022 appointment of Judge Raymond Zondo as the country’s chief judge set aside.<\/p>\n
Zuma first launched the challenge through the Jacob Zuma Foundation in May.<\/p>\n
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who appointed Justice Zondo to the high seat, filed a notice to oppose the application on September 26.<\/p>\n
This was while the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) filed a notice that it would abide by any ruling the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, would hand down over the matter.<\/p>\n
In a statement released by the Zuma Foundation on Thursday, spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said Ramaphosa and the JSC eventually produced \u201can incomplete record\u201d of the documents.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome startling revelations have emerged from the record which put into serious doubt the rationality of President Ramaphosa\u2019s decision to appoint Judge Zondo ahead of Judge Mandisa Maya in particular. She was the candidate highly recommended by the JSC and leaders of political parties representing the vast majority of public representatives.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has also emerged that Judge Zondo received only three votes, compared to 19 votes for Judge Maya, making him the worst performer. He was also the only candidate to receive a serious adverse character comment from the JSC, which remarked that \u2018efficiency and discipline did not appear to be his strengths\u2019,\u201d Manyi stated.<\/p>\n
The Foundation further accused Ramaphosa of violating the Constitution, which specifically prohibits gender discrimination. The President is compelled by the Constitution to consider \u201cthe need for the judiciary to reflect broadly the racial and gender composition of South Africa\u201d, which the Zuma Foundation said Ramaphosa\u2019s decision to overlook Judge Maya \u201cin spite of her far superior credentials, performance, and suitability for the position\u201d represented a \u201cclear case\u201d of gender discrimination.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis legal challenge will give him the opportunity to justify his conduct, failing which it must be declared unconstitutional and set aside,\u201d Manyi said.<\/p>\n
The Foundation also wants Justice Zondo to pay back the money he earned as Chief Justice.<\/p>\n
Manyi said they also intend on asking the court to refer Zondo\u2019s \u201congoing aggravating conduct of crossing the line\u201d by dabbling in political commentary to the JSC for investigation and disciplinary action.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe therefore look forward to the President\u2019s answering affidavit and hope that, for once, justice will be done in a case involving President Ramaphosa,\u201d Manyi said.<\/p>\n
kailene.pillay@inl.co.za<\/p>\n
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