12 May 2025
JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION
MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT
JUDICIAL VACANCIES
The Judicial Service Commission invites nominations of candidates to fill vacancies of Judges in the following Courts:
1. Constitutional Court
Two vacancies
2. Supreme Court of Appeal
One vacancy
3. Land Court
One vacancy. Candidates for this position must be persons who, by reason of their training and experience, have expertise in the field of land rights matters.
4. Labour Court
Three vacancies (Johannesburg)
5. Eastern Cape Division of the High Court (Four vacancies)
One vacancy (Deputy Judge President)
Two vacancies (Makhanda)
One vacancy (Mthatha)
6. Free State Division of the High Court
One vacancy
7. Gauteng Division of the High Court
Eight vacancies
8. KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court
Five vacancies
9. Limpopo Division of the High Court
One vacancy (Polokwane)
10. Mpumalanga Division of the High Court
Two vacancies (Middleburg)
Nominations must be accompanied by the candidate’s signed 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.
Where the candidate seeks an appointment to the Supreme Court of Appeal, the candidate should submit at least one judgment that was penned by him or her alone.
The updated 2025 standard questionnaires to be completed by all nominees are available on the South African Judiciary website: www.judiciary.org.za, alternatively on the Constitutional Court website: www.concourt.org.za.
In order to comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPI Act), candidates need not provide their residential address, identity number and cellphone number in their questionnaire and curriculum vitae.
Candidates are, however, requested to fill in annexure “A’’ attached to the questionnaire for office use only.
Candidates must also submit the standardised, current “clearance certificate” which the candidate is required to obtain from his / her professional body regarding the candidate’s professional status within that body, his or her suitability for appointment to the Bench and the nature of any disciplinary proceedings completed or pending in respect of the relevant candidate. For advocates and attorneys, the certificate must be obtained from the Legal Practice Council.
Nominations must be arranged in the following order:
- Signed nomination letter;
- Signed consent letter;
- Signed updated 2025 questionnaire for Judges – to be completed by a candidate who has already been appointed as a permanent judge;
- Signed updated 2025 questionnaire for Non-Judges – to be completed by a candidate who has not yet been appointed as a permanent judge to any court;
- Curriculum vitae;
- Certificate of good standing from the Legal Practice Council or Magistrates Commission, where applicable; and
- At least three written judgments (and in the case of an application for appointment to the SCA, at least one penned by the candidate alone).
Candidates nominated for more than one Court must submit a separate nomination letter in respect of each court.
The Secretariat wishes to emphasize the following:
- Interviews with short-listed candidates will be conducted in public i.e. members of the public and the media are welcome to attend.
- It is incumbent on persons or bodies nominating candidates to motivate their nominations by referring the JSC to the candidate’s qualifications and general fitness for appointment. In order to comply with the POPI Act, persons or bodies need not provide their residential address, identity number and cellphone number on the nomination letters.
- Nominations must be addressed to and reach the Secretariat of the JSC by no later than Thursday, 12 June 2025.
Interviews will take place during the week of 6 – 17 October 2025 in Gauteng.
Candidates who wish to email their nominations are encouraged to do so and need not hand deliver hard copies. Candidates are encouraged to make a follow-up with the Secretariat of the JSC should they not receive confirmation of receipt by 17 June 2025 at 12:00 pm. Candidates who wish to hand deliver their nominations may do so either at the Office of the Chief Justice, based at 188, 14th Road, Noordwyk, Midrand or alternatively at the Constitutional Court.
Applications must be addressed to:
The Secretariat of the JSC
Office of the Chief Justice
Private Bag X10, Marshalltown
Johannesburg, 2017
Tel : (010) 493 2633 alternatively (010) 493 2575
Email : MSongca@judiciary.org.za and TPhaahlamohlaka@judiciary.org.za
Cc : JSC@judiciary.org.za
OR
The Registrar’s Office
Constitutional Court of South Africa
1 Hospital Street
Braamfontein
2017
(Electronically transmitted)
_______________________
Mbali Songca
Secretariat: Judicial Service Commission
Download the official letter here.