Zuma appoints 14 new judges

Lorrimer Eric Leach, Jeremiah Buti Zwelibanzi Shongwe and Zukisa Laura Lumka Tshiqi were appointed to the Supreme Court of Appeal from 1 December. Phillip Coppin SC, Keoagile Elias Matojane, Nomonde Patience Mngqibisa-Thusi, Sulet Potterill and Ronel Getruida Tolmay were appointed as judges of the High Courts in Johannesburg and Pretoria from 1 February. Johannes Willem Eksteen and Judith Margaret Roberson were appointed as judges in Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth from 1 January. Herbert Qedusizi Msimang was appointed as Deputy Judge President of the High Courts in Pietermaritzburg and Durban. Annah Malefsane Kgoele was appointed as judge of the Mafikeng High Court. In the Labour Court, Basheer Wagley, of the Cape High Court, was appointed Deputy Judge President for 10 years with effect from 1 January. Urmila Bhoola was appointed a judge in the Labour Court for 10 years, after being an acting judge. Full Mail & Guardian Online report

A report in The Mercury points out that Msimang made headlines in 2006 when he struck Zuma's corruption case off the roll after refusing to grant the state a postponement. More recently, notes the report, he was in the news again when, in an appeal matter before him, he declined to interfere with an 18-month prison sentence dished out to a motorist convicted of reckless and negligent driving for jumping a red robot. Msimang, who was born and bred in Edendale in Pietermaritzburg, studied law at the University of Zululand and did a Masters degree at Tulane University in Louisiana. He lectured and practised as an advocate in Maseru, Lesotho, before becoming an attorney. He was appointed to the KZN Bench in January, 2002. Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)