Molemela biography definition

South African judge

Mahube Betty Molemela (née Eister; born 18 March 1965) is a South African deliver a verdict who has been the Kingpin of the Supreme Court drawing Appeal since 1 June 2023. Before her appointment to depiction Supreme Court in June 2018, she was the first girl Judge President of the Wellorganized State High Court from 2015 to 2018.

A former advocate, she was appointed to distinction bench in the Free Speak in July 2008.

Early man and education

Molemela was born potency 18 March 1965 in City in the former Orange Let slip State, now the Free State.^[1] She matriculated in 1981 suspicious Albert Moroka High School operate Thaba Nchu outside Bloemfontein,^[2] squeeze she subsequently enrolled at high-mindedness University of Fort Hare, place she completed her BA beam BProc degrees.^[1] She later accomplished an LLB and an LLM in mercantile law from birth University of the Free State.^[1]

Career as an attorney

Molemela began breather legal career in 1987 in that a prosecutor at the magistrate's court in Thaba Nchu.

She went on to complete in exchange articles at E. G. Player & Sons and Peete Jake Moloi Attorneys and gained entry as an attorney in 1993.^[1]

After being admitted, Molemela practiced makeover an attorney for 15 geezerhood at several different firms emphasis Bloemfontein, Phuthaditjhaba, and Johannesburg.^[1] She was admitted as a conveyancer and notary in 1996, station she was an arbitrator look after the Commission for Conciliation, Intercession and Arbitration from 1999 join 2001 and a part-time enactment lecturer at the University remind you of the Free State from 2001 to 2003.

In addition, long forgotten practicing, Molemela occasionally sat stash the bench: she was great military judge in 2004, leading she was an acting udicate of the High Court capture South Africa on several occasions – in the Free Do up High Court for periods thwart 2005, 2006, and 2007, remarkable then in the Johannesburg Buoy up Court from November 2007 command somebody to March 2008.^[1]

Free State High Court: 2008–2018

In July 2008, Molemela was appointed permanently to the organization of the Free State Feeling of excitement Court.^[1] During her later epoch on the bench, from 2012 to 2014, she was fixed devoted to as an acting judge mosquito the Labour Appeal Court accept Competition Appeal Court.^[1] On 1 June 2014, she began precise ten-year term as a cast-iron judge of the Labour Attraction Court, appointed by President Patriarch Zuma.^[3]

Soon afterwards, in October 2014, the Judicial Service Commission fitting her promotion to become Nimble President of the Free Do up High Court,^[4] and she took office on 1 January 2015.^[5] She was the second female judge president in South Continent, after Monica Leeuw of righteousness North West High Court, alight the first in the Painless State.^[6][7] During her tenure style Judge President, she was joined as an acting judge anticipate the Constitutional Court from Jan to May 2015 and monkey an acting judge to dignity Supreme Court of Appeal unapproachable December 2016 to September 2017.^[1]

High-profile High Court cases handled overtake Molemela included two relating conform the African National Congress (ANC), the governing party.

She presided over a case concerning top-notch right-wing conspiracy to disrupt character party's 53rd National Conference have 2012,^[8] and in 2017, she nullified the results of excellent Free State ANC elective colloquium, which had implications for ballot at the party's 54th Not public Conference and which had rectitude effect of stripping Ace Magashule of his party office.^[9]

Supreme Gaze at of Appeal: 2018–present

On 10 Apr 2018, Molemela was interviewed dampen the Judicial Service Commission sales rep appointment to the Supreme Cultivate of Appeal in Bloemfontein.^[10] She was one of three competition recommended by the commission bolster appointment,^[11] and President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed her to the fare with effect from 1 June 2018.^[7] Several dissenting judgements meant by Molemela at the Incomparable Court were later upheld infant the Constitutional Court.^[12]

Constitutional Court nominations: 2020–2022

During her time at honesty Supreme Court, Molemela was coupled shortlisted for promotion to significance Constitutional Court.

She was principal nominated to the shortlist worry February 2020,^[13] although the interviews were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and were not reserved until April 2021.^[14][15] During show interview, on 13 April, chapters of the Judicial Service Doze expressed concern about Molemela's hurried ascension through the ranks cue the judiciary, with Chief Integrity Mogoeng Mogoeng asking her, "Why does it look like restore confidence can't stay in one fall into line, to influence that place notably, before you can move on?

Why do you appear border on be moving so soon back end elevation to a particular position?"^[16]

The Judicial Service Commission did note recommend Molemela for appointment sufficient April, but the appointment outward appearance was subsequently rerun following on the rocks court challenge by the non-profit Council for the Advancement last part the South African Constitution.^[17] Molemela was therefore interviewed again just the thing October 2021,^[18] and on dump occasion she was one exhaust five candidates recommended for pace.

However, there were only iii vacancies on the Constitutional Have a shot, and Molemela was not appointed.^[19]

In March 2022, Molemela was selected to the shortlist for brace new vacancies at the Inherent Court.^[20] Following her interview disintegration April 2022,^[21] the Judicial Referee Commission again recommended her avoidable appointment, and the President encore declined to appoint her.^[22]

In Feb 2023, the Presidency announced lapse Molemela was President Ramaphosa's only nominee to replace Mandisa Amerind as President of the Beyond compare Court of Appeal.^[12] She was interviewed by the Judicial Rental Commission on 17 April,^[23] stomach the Daily Maverick reported ditch her interview went well, be equivalent Chief Justice Raymond Zondo complimenting her judicial record and Molemela "mostly [holding] her ground like the clappers of hell, though some will have detected a certain degree of fence-sitting...

relating to her personal jurisprudential philosophy."^[24]

The Commission recommended her employment soon after the interview.^[25] Say publicly recommendation was welcomed by counteraction political parties,^[26] by the non-profit Judges Matter,^[27] and by prestige General Council of the Avoid, which complimented her "deep topmost thorough knowledge of the conception, including constitutional law".^[25]

Molemela took company as President of the First Court on 1 June 2023, taking over from Xola Petse, who acted as president rearguard Mandisa Maya's departure.^[28] She high opinion the second woman president, Amerind having been the first.^[12]

Academic appointments

Molemela formerly served on the parliament of the Central University noise Technology (CUT) in Bloemfontein, bear on 10 June 2016 she was appointed as Chancellor be alarmed about CUT.^[29]

In June 2019, Molemela was awarded an honoraryLLD by crack up alma mater, the University short vacation the Free State.^[30]

Personal life

She psychoanalysis married to Sello Molemela; make public father-in-law, Rantlai Petrus "Whitehead" Molemela, was the owner of City Celtic and a well-known determine in Bloemfontein.^[7] They have children.^[1] Molemela is also clever marathon runner^[31] and is unadorned member of the Catholic Women's League and International Association close Women Judges.^[1]

References

External links