Cape Town -
Top advocates Jeremy Gauntlett SC and Owen Rogers have again been shortlisted for a vacancy in the Western Cape High Court.
This was according to a list provided by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Tuesday.
Gauntlett, considered by many one of the country's finest lawyers, was previously passed over by the JSC in 2010. Rogers was likewise snubbed in 2011.
Gauntlett clashed with Justice Minister Jeff Radebe earlier this year over the Legal Practice Bill, which he called “the biggest single threat to an independent legal profession”.
Radebe responded in a speech, saying this view was ill-considered.
Attorneys Judith Cloete and Stephen Koen had likewise re-applied. Attorneys MJ Dolamo, BP Mantame, and N Saba, and advocate Ashton Schippers, were also shortlisted.
Four positions were available at this court.
Judge MI Madondo had again been shortlisted for the position of deputy judge president in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court.
Judge AN Jappie was the only other candidate shortlisted for the post, the JSC announcement showed.
Madondo was previously shortlisted in March for the same position, but the JSC declined to recommend him for the position. He previously applied for the position of judge president in the same court, which was vacant last year.
Prior to his appointment to the bench, Madondo had accused a white judge of racism during court proceedings, as she did not defend him from an advocate's verbal abuse.
Madondo, from a poor background, had worked as a farmworker before entering the legal profession, at one stage selling a goat to help finance his education, he told the JSC in 2007.
Attorneys D Hinxa, S Jacobs, PP Majeke, and advocates MJ Lowe and IT Stretch were shortlisted for two vacancies in the Eastern Cape High Court.
Judges MM Mabasele and WL Wepener were shortlisted for two vacancies in the electoral court.
Judge B Waglay was the only shortlisted candidate for the position of labour court judge president.
The vacancy for deputy judge president of the High Courts in Johannesburg and Pretoria was deferred to next year. Attorney TD Brenner, and advocate DS Fourie were the only candidates shortlisted for two vacancies in the these two courts.
Candidates would be interviewed in Cape Town between October 15 and 19. - Sapa