The most watched JSC interviews

Watching the Judicial Service Commission interviews can give you great insight into the nature of a candidate as well as the judiciary and the JSC itself. As not everyone can attend the JSC interviews and watch them live, we record all the interviews and share the videos on our YouTube channel for you to watch.

The videos have proved to be very popular so we thought we would share with you some of our most watched JSC interviews:

JSC interview of Judge N F Kgomo for the Limpopo Deputy Judge President

This is our most watched video with over 566 000 views! During his interview, Kgomo was hauled over the coals for a series of perceived misdemeanours that emerged during the interview — from his “sexist remarks” that female lawyers were attracted to private practise and expensive cars which obviated their availability for the Bench — where there was potential to earn less money — to the perception that he had pressured junior staff members at the Limpopo High Court to nominate him.

JSC interview of Ms M B Mahalelo for the Gauteng High Court 

354 000 views: It was handbags at noon — again — for Magistrate Maletsatsi Mahalelo, when she was asked by the Judicial Service Commission whether a problem relating to a law clerk filing an objection to her candidature in April 2017 had been resolved.

JSC interview of Judge Zondo for the Constitutional Court Deputy Chief Justice

337 480 views: In April 2017 Judge Raymond Zondo was interviewed by the Judicial Service Commission to become the Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.

JSC interview of Advocate B R Tokota SC for the Eastern Cape High Court

283 856 views: “The law is the law,” said Adv Tokota after a barrage of questions from Julius Malema. This interview is one of our favourites.

JSC Interviews of Judge Meyer for the Supreme Court of Appeal position (2016)

141 050 views: EFF leader Julius Malema’s questions at the Judicial Service Commission are often delivered in bruising tone – but his questions are usually very smart and on point.

JSC interview of Adv D N Unterhalter SC for the Gauteng High Court 

67 790 views: Advocate David Unterhalter SC is one of South Africa’s foremost silks and has appeared in various high profile cases which have landed up in the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court. During the course of a relentless period of interruptions and questions by Chief Justice Mogoeng regarding the role of civil society in bringing cases to court, Unterhalter remained cool.

JSC Interview of Judge T R Gorven for the Supreme Court of Appeal position (2016)

62 270 views: An impressive but ultimately unsuccessful interview. Leading the charge was the Economic Freedom Fighters commander-in-chief, commissioner Julius Malema. He pushed Gorven on whether judges could rule on whether public officials were “unfit to hold office” and “What would happen to our democracy if the arms of the state were used to second guess or deliberately ignore judgments?”

JSC Interview of Mr M G Phatudi for the Limpopo High Court

54 000 views: Malema 1 Phatudi 0.
Canon 5: A Judge Should Refrain from Political Activity. Malema was unconvinced,“I have seen you at ANC meetings post-1994,” the EFF’s commander-in-chief thundered at a point during the interview when Phatudi was scrambling to explain .

JSC Interview of Advocate P Zietsman SC for the Free State High Court

51 654 views: Zietsman was grilled on briefing patterns in Bloemfontein and transformation initiatives at the Free State Bar.

JSC Interview of Judge B J Mnguni for the Kwa-Zulu Natal Deputy Judge President position

47 478 views: It was a difficult interview, from start to finish. And unsuccessful – but the dreams of the man were clear. His sights were set deputy judge president. “If you don’t involve African people into the administration of the court then you create the impression that they are not good enough for that administrative role.”

Judge Mnguni passed away 7 September 2020. A great loss to the legal fraternity.

To watch all the JSC interviews visit our YouTube channel.

You can watch the next round of JSC interviews LIVE on our website. See the details of all the April 2021 candidates here.