Tefo Tefo
THE first Court of Appeal session for 2015 which was indefinitely suspended in April due to lack of judges is expected to proceed later this month, the Sunday Express has established.
Four foreign and three local judges would preside over 38 cases from 20-31 July, while judgments are to be delivered on 7 August 2015.
According to a circular issued by Court of Appeal Assistant Registrar ‘Matieho Mothobi, six criminal and 32 civil cases would be heard during this period.
However, Ms Mothobi would not disclose the names of the judges when asked by the Sunday Express. The April Court of Appeal session was postponed after the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) rejected foreign judges who had been recommended by the president of the apex court, Justice Kananelo Mosito.
“Four foreign judges have been appointed to sit in the Court of Appeal session which starts on 20 July.
“I cannot disclose their names now suffice to say they are from South Africa and other neighbouring countries.
“They are not the same judges who presided over a recent case between the Attorney General (Tšokolo Makhethe) and His Majesty because those had specifically come for that particular case and their job ended there,” Ms Mothobi said.
“Even lawyers who have their cases proceeding before court will only know on the 20th (July 2015) which judges are to preside over their cases.
“This is to avoid a repeat of what happened recently when certain individuals contested the appointment of judges to sit in the Court of Appeal.
“The four judges will sit together with the President (Justice Mosito), and three High Court judges, that include the Chief Justice (Nthomeng Majara),” Ms Mothobi said.
Asked if there would be a second session of Court this year, Ms Mothobi said: “That will be determined by how the forthcoming session goes.
“It will also be determined by a number of cases filed for the second session, but as I said it will mostly be determined by how this sitting goes.”
Comments are closed.