Zuma appoints five new women judges

A Mail & Guardian Online report notes that according to a statement issued by the Presidency, Zuma has appointed the judges as follows: The SCA: Justice Halima Khanam Saldulker and Justice Nigel Paul Willis. North and South Gauteng High Courts: Aubrey Phago Ledwaba as Deputy Judge President, and Advocate Gregory Charles Wright (Johannesburg); Wendy Hughes (Pretoria); Nomsa Victoria Khumalo (Pretoria); Brian Amos Mashile (Johannesburg); Daisy Sekao Molefe (Pretoria); Leonie Windell (Johannesburg). Competition Appeal Court: Justice Dennis Martin Davis, as Judge President, for a period of five years. All the appointments are with effect from 1 July. Full Mail & Guardian Online report

Despite the recent controversy over whites on the Bench, the new appointees include three white men and a white woman, notes a Beeld report. But it quotes former JSC commissioner Advocate Izak Smuts SC as saying he is standing by his argument that the JSC is prejudiced against white men. Smuts resigned from the JSC over this issue. He pointed out several excellent candidates have said they are not available due to the perception of prejudice against white men. 'I will stand by that point,' he added. Full Beeld report