Chief Justice Raymond Zondo addressed concerns over the alleged capture of South Africa’s judiciary during the opening day of the judges’ conference at Sun City in North West on Tuesday. Zondo, in his opening remarks, categorically rejected accusations of judicial capture, emphasizing that no evidence had been presented to support such claims.
“We have already been accused of being captured, but it is an accusation that we reject with the contempt it deserves. For four years, I called for everybody who had evidence that the judiciary in South Africa was captured, and nobody came with any evidence,” Zondo stated during his speech.
He further asserted that the accusations of judicial capture were driven by an agenda aimed at undermining public trust in the judiciary. Zondo emphasized that no credible evidence had been provided to substantiate these allegations, suggesting that they were propagated to cast suspicion on the judiciary.
The Chief Justice acknowledged the challenges faced by judges and magistrates in their work, including issues such as load shedding and a shortage of courtrooms. Zondo called for the institutional independence of the judiciary, advocating for the necessary resources to ensure the smooth functioning of court operations.
During a press conference, Zondo discussed the threats faced by judges, particularly in high-profile cases. He revealed instances of personal threats against judges, citing an incident involving Judge Keoagile Matojane, who received threats on his personal phone. Zondo and Judge President of the Gauteng High Court, Dunstan Mlambo, highlighted the need to address these threats and ensure the protection of judges.
Zondo also mentioned a court case in KwaZulu-Natal, where 65 individuals were set to stand trial for allegedly conspiring to kill him during the July 2021 unrest. The Chief Justice emphasized the importance of protecting judges and noted the significance of public support for their role in upholding justice.
In his opening address, Zondo reflected on the judiciary’s “greatest test” during the sentencing of former President Jacob Zuma to 10 months in prison for defying the Constitutional Court. He highlighted the threats made against the Constitutional Court justices and praised their resilience in upholding the rule of law despite external pressures.
The three-day judges’ conference aims to address various challenges faced by the judiciary, including threats against judges and the overall integrity of the judicial system.