Most watched JSC interview videos of 2022

2022 was an exciting but very challenging year for the JSC, marked by a number of significant events including the Chief Justice Interviews and the Deputy Chief Justice interview – both of which had far reaching, transformative consequences for the judiciary and the JSC itself. 

In mid-November 2022, the JSC videos on the Judges Matter YouTube page had been viewed over 547 275 times! Three of the October 2022 interviews drew particularly intensive public attention, drawing over 30 000 views in just 2 months.

These are our most watched videos of 2022:

1. Interview of Adv S D J Wilson, Gauteng Division of the High Court

Interviewed: October 2022 | 20 434 views (Feb 2023)
It has been a number of years since a human rights lawyer has been interviewed and recommended by the JSC. But then, Advocate Stuart Wilson is not your average human rights lawyer. ‘As a law professor, practising advocate and co-founder of SERI – one of SA’s leading NGOs, Adv Wilson’s experience certainly speaks for itself. But there are no guarantees with the JSC.

2. Interview of Judge M G Phatudi, for Judge President, Limpopo Division of the High Court

Interviewed: October 2022 | 7 997 views (Feb 2023)
After three previously unsuccessful interviews, Judge George Phatudi was nominated for appointment as the new Judge President of the Limpopo High Court. There were three candidates interviewed for the position – and the JSC panel did not hold back!

3. Interview of Judge M I Madondo, for Judge President, KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court

Interviewed: October 2022 | 8223 views (Feb 2023)
Madondo was appointed Deputy Judge President in 2016 and took over as acting Judge President in late 2021. Due for retirement in late 2023, his appointment was always going to be a tough sell. But Madondo put up a fight…

4. Interview of Adv N E Ndlokovane, Gauteng Division of the High Court

Interviewed: October 2022 | 7 918 views (Feb 2023)
With an impressive legal career, and significant acting experience that dates back as far as 2016, and stretches across multiple high court divisions, one would have expected Adv Ndlokovane to be a definite appointment. That was a mistake.

5. Interview of Adv A De Wet, Western Cape Division of the High Court

Interviewed: October 2022 | 6 958 views (Feb 2023)
This was a difficult and humiliating interview. Despite having acted 6 terms in the Western Cape High Court, at Judge President Hlophe’s invitation, Judge Hlophe used the opportunity to make plain his displeasure with acting judge Alma de Wet.

6. Interview of Judge M I Madondo, for Judge President, KwaZulu-Natal

Interviewed: April 2022 | 4 382 views (Feb 2023)
As the only candidate shortlisted for the vacant post of KZN judge president, the current Deputy Judge President Mjabuliseni Madondo should have been a shoe-in for the position. But the job was his for the losing.

7. DEPUTY CHIEF JUSTICE INTERVIEW OF JUSTICE MANDISA MAYA

Interviewed: October 2022 | 3 820 views (Feb 2023)
Justice Mandisa Maya is one of South Africa’s most senior judges, having first been appointed to the High Court in 2000, she served as the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal from 2017 – the first woman to do so. She was seen by many as the frontrunner to be chief justice. But, in March, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the appointment of Justice Raymond Zondo. And at the same time, announced his intention to nominate Justice Mandisa Maya as deputy chief justice. On paper, Maya seems to be up for the task. Watch her interview, and you decide.

8. Supreme Court of Appeal Interview of Judge K E Matojane

Interviewed: October 2022 | 3 820 views (Feb 2023)
One thing was clear from the start; this was not the first time Supreme Court of Appeal Judge candidate Elias Matojane and Malema had gone toe to toe. Malema entered the ring with a thinly veiled question pertaining to Matojane’s ruling regarding former President Jacob Zuma – and the tone was set.

9. Supreme Court of Appeal Interview of Judge M Makaula

Interviewed: October 2022 | 3 546 views (Feb 2023)
If Judge M Makaula had aspirations for a position on the SCA, the combination of former SCA president Justice Mandisa Maya and SCA Deputy President Justice Xola Petse quickly put them to rest.

10. Interview of Judge A M L Phatudi, for Judge President, Limpopo Division of the High Court

Interviewed: October 2022 | 3 414 views (Feb 2023)
Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, the most recent addition to the commission, hit the ground running, pulling no punches in his exchange with Judge Arnoldus Phatudi, one of three candidates vying for the Limpopo High Court Judge President position.

11. Chief Justice Interview of Justice Raymond Zondo

Interviewed: February 2022 | 3161 views (Feb 2023)
This was always going to be a difficult interview and the highly politicised JSC panel surprised no one when Zondo was quizzed for hours about his role as chair of the State Capture Commission. Twelve hours, and a shouting match between Malema and Lamola later, it was over. It was an interview that marked possibly the lowest point in JSC history.