The October 2026 JSC Interviews will take place from 5 – 16 October 2026.
The JSC will interview 44 candidates for 22 vacancies at 10 Superior Courts, including the SCA, the High Court (Gauteng, KZN, Northern Cape and Western Cape) and specialist courts (Competition, Land, Electoral, and Labour courts).
JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION
SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES FOR JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT
On 5 May 2026 the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) published notices in the media calling for nominations of interested persons to fill vacancies in the following courts:
- Supreme Court of Appeal,
- Labour Court and
- Labour Appeal Court,
- Competition Appeal Court,
- Electoral Court,
- Land Court,
- Western Cape Division of the High Court,
- Eastern Cape Division of the High Court,
- Gauteng Division of the High Court,
- KwaZulu–Natal Division of the High Court, and
- Northern Cape Division of the High Court.
The closing date for submission of nominations was 5 June 2026.
Erratum
On Friday, 31 July 2026, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) published a Notice in the media inviting comments from law bodies and any persons who wish to comment on the suitability or otherwise of shortlisted candidates for vacancies in various superior courts. The Notice erroneously advised that the number of vacancies at the Competition Appeal Court is one vacancy instead of two vacancies.
The JSC hereby advises that the Notice is accordingly amended to reflect this correction. All comments must reach the Secretariat of the JSC by no later than Friday, 11 September 2026.
The following candidates have been shortlisted to be interviewed:
[WATCH ALL THE INTERVIEWS HERE]
Judge Gerald Hercules Bloem
Judge Mokgere Busisiwe Shareen Masipa
Judge Ingrid Opperman
Judge Mmathebe Violet Phatshoane
Judge Esther Johanna Sophia Steyn
After the deliberations, the Judicial Service Commission has recommended the following for appointment to the Supreme Court of Appeal:
Judge Gerald Bloem
Judge Mmathebe Phatshoane
Judge Esther Steyn
Judge Betty Maletsatsi Mahalelo
Judge Graham Nasious Moshoana
After deliberations, the Judicial Service Commission has resolved to recommend neither candidate for appointment as Deputy Judge President of the Labour Court.
Judge Christina Prinsloo
Judge Benita Whitcher
After deliberations, the Judicial Service Commission has recommended the following for appointment to the Labour Appeal Court:
Judge Connie Prinsloo
Judge Benita Whitcher
Ms Lindiwe Annastacia Gura
Adv Zodwa Dorah Maluleke
Mr Bongani Mgaga
Ms Bhavna Ramji
After the deliberations, the Judicial Service Commission has recommended the following for appointment to the Labour Court:
Mr Bongani Mgaga
Ms Bhavna Ramji
Judge Mfuniselwa Elijah Nkosi
Judge James Dumisani Lekhuleni
After the deliberations, the Judicial Service Commission has recommended the following for appointment to the Competition Appeal Court:
Judge Mfuniselwa Elijah Nkosi
Judge James Lekhuleni
No candidate(s) were shortlisted
Ms Diana Mabasa
Adv Mikateko Joyce Maluleke
Adv Sekgame Shadrack Tebeile
After deliberations, the Judicial Service Commission has recommended the following for appointment to the Land Court:
Ms Diana Mabasa
Advocate Mikateko Joyce Maluleke
Dr Michelle Fiona Adams
Adv Michael Walter Janisch SC
Ms Elzanne Mureen Jonker
Adv Ashley Henri Kantor SC
Adv Zuko Luvo Mapoma
Prof Fareed Moosa
Ms Sharon Mthimunye
Adv Stanley Christopher O’Brien SC
After deliberations, the Judicial Service Commission has recommended the following for appointment as Judges of the Western Cape High Court:
Advocate Michael Janisch SC
Advocate Zuko Mapoma
Advocate Ashley Kantor SC
Judge Fathima Bibi Adam Dawood
Judge Buyiswa Majiki
Judge Vuyokazi Pamella Noncembu
Judge Bulelwa Myra Pakati
Following the interviews and deliberations for Deputy Judge President of the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court held on 6 October 2026, none of the candidates achieved the required majority of 13 votes. The JSC will therefore deliberate further before nominating candidates. Read more here.
Mr Jan Petrus Allen
Ms Muvhango Antoinette Lukhaimane
Judge Sandiswa Mfenyana
Adv Jacques Minnaar
Mr Matodzi Brian Nemavhidi
Adv Michelle Van Nieuwenhuizen
Adv Portia Limakatso Nobanda Mooti SC
Dr Ettian Raubenheimer
Judge Frances Maria Magrietha Reid
Adv Sekgame Shadrack Tebeile
After deliberations, the Judicial Service Commission has recommended the following for appointment to the Gauteng High Court:
Ms Muvhango Lukhaimane
Judge Sandiswa Mfenyana
Judge Frances Reid
Advocate Jacques Minnaar
After deliberations, the Judicial Service Commission has recommended the following for appointment to the KwaZulu-Natal High Court:
Ms Jennifer Marion
Adv Andries Daniel Olivier
Ms Janine Adele Snyders
Adv Tandisa Tyuthuza
After deliberations, the Judicial Service Commission has recommended the following for appointment as a Judge of the Northern Cape High Court:
Advocate Tandisa Tyuthuza
INTERVIEW OF ADVOCATE J H ROELOFSE BY THE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION ON 12 OCTOBER 2026 FOR JUDICIAL VACANCIES IN THE MPUMALANGA DIVISION OF THE HIGH COURT
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) will, on 12 October 2026, interview Advocate J H Roelofse following the judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in the matter of Mpumalanga Society of Advocates v JSC and Others (SCA judgment) dated 7 July 2026. The SCA judgment set aside the order of the Gauteng Division of the High Court recommending Advocate Roelofse for appointment as a Judge of the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court and ordered the JSC to reconsider Advocate Roelofse’s candidacy. The Judicial Service Commission will accordingly convene to interview Adv Roelofse for a judicial vacancy in the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court.
The interview was be held as follows:
Date : 12 October 2026
Venue : @Sandton Hotel, Benmore, 2nd Floor
Time : 09h00
After deliberations, the Judicial Service Commission decided not to recommend Advocate Johannes Hendrickus Roelofse for appointment as a judge of the Mpumalanga High Court. In a July 2026 judgment, the Supreme Court of Appeal ordered the JSC to reconsider his suitability for appointment after the Mpumalanga Bar successfully challenged the constitutionality of the JSC’s previous recommendation for Roelofse’s appointment.
The shortlisted candidates will be notified of the venue, date and time of the interviews in due course.
Law bodies and any persons who wish to comment on the suitability or otherwise of a shortlisted candidate should address their comments to the Secretariat of the JSC at MSongca@judiciary.org.za; SMthombeni@judiciary.org.za; MaBoke@judiciary.org.za; SiMthethwa@judiciary.org.za and copied to: JSC@judiciary.org.za.
Comments in respect of each candidate must be submitted on a separate page in both PDF and Word format and must reach the Secretariat by no later than 11 September 2026. Comments received after 11 September 2026 will not be considered.
Issued by the Judicial Service Commission
Download the official media statement here.
31 July 2026