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VOICES | 30 years of strengthening democracy, SA’s constitutional order
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | City Press
‘I will not lose to a junior’ vows defiant Ndlovu
Setting the record straight on IEC’s appeal
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Daily Maverick
ROAD TO 2024 ELECTIONS OP-ED The IEC’s decision to appeal the Electoral Court’s order setting aside its own decision to uphold an objection against the candidacy of former president Zuma for the National Assembly has triggered an avalanche of commentary, most of it misleading and mistaken.
Don’t let dirty politics and high-stakes hysteria undermine the IEC
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Sunday Times
Don’t let dirty politics and high-stakes hysteria undermine the IEC It is time to stand with the electoral commission, not against it 17 March 2024 – 00:00 By LAWSON NAIDOO and Dan Mafora With a little over 10 weeks to election day, politicking inevitably gets dirtier and more desperate.
SA needs an anti-corruption framework that is fit for purpose
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Sunday Times
SA needs an anti-corruption framework that is fit for purpose There must be the political will to organise our state agencies so they can tackle graft effectively.
VOICES | SA needs a comprehensive approach to corruption | City Press
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | City Press
The recommendations by the Zondo commission, which was chaired by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, have not been fully implemented. VOICESAnti-corruption Week on 3-9 December, offered an opportunity for us to reflect on the progress made towards improving South Africa’s anti-corruption machinery. South Africans need to be in the know if we want to create a prosperous future. News24 has kept the country informed for 25 years, and we’re about to enter a new chapter of fearless journalism.
LAWSON NAIDOO AND DAN MAFORA: Top court vacancy shows JSC must reform to attract officials
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Business Day
As the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) convenes its first biannual session of interviews of candidates for appointment to the superior courts on Monday, it will not interview any candidates for a vacancy in the Constitutional Court created by the departure of justice Sisi Khampepe in late 2021. In April 2022 the JSC interviewed five candidates for two vacancies, but only recommended four candidates.
Parliament needs to take control of impeachment inquiry
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Business Day
It is in terms of those rules that DA MP Natasha Mazzone first tabled a motion in the house, and the independent panel that found that a preliminary case for Mkhwebane’s removal was present was appointed. Once the National Assembly had resolved to establish the committee, she became the subject of removal proceedings, and the president was empowered to suspend her.
ANC’s plan to neuter party funding law raises red flags
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Business Day
In part one of the state capture commission report, acting chief justice Raymond Zondo highlights the need to strengthen legislation relating to corruption in political party financing. The report states: “It is a matter of extreme concern that the evidence given at the commission establishes a link between the corrupt grant of tenders and political party financing. Such a link can represent an existential threat to our democracy.
Stagnant remuneration threatens judicial independence
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Business Day
One of the ways in which the independence of the judiciary is guaranteed by the constitution is the security of tenure enjoyed by judges. Once appointed they can only be removed on limited grounds and following an onerous and robust process culminating in a vote in the National Assembly. This serves to insulate judges from external pressures and influences by removing both the prospect of financial enticement and the threat of removal from office.
Appointing the next Chief Justice: A matter of grave importance
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | City Press
The office of the Chief Justice of South Africa is the most coveted judicial office in the country. Felix Dlangamandla VOICES Despite the enormous contribution that Chaskalson made to human rights jurisprudence and the liberation struggle, the colour of his skin would have negated all that, at least in their minds. The Constitution provides that appropriately qualified, fit and proper persons may be appointed as judges.
Lawson Naidoo and Dan Mafora | New chief justice has to guide the ConCourt through a myriad of challenges
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | News24
Lawson Naidoo and Dan Mafora | Moving SSA to the Presidency: It is oversight that matters
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | News24
Lawson Naidoo and Dan Mafora | ConCourt Zuma judgment a ‘courageous act’ of judicial independence
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | News24
Jacob Zuma is attempting an appeal via the back door
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Business Day
As far as desperate attempts go, former president Jacob Zuma’sapplication to rescind the Constitutional Court’s order finding him guilty of contempt and sentencing him to 15 months’ imprisonment is a classic. The application was filed on July 2 after the former president had refused to participate in the two court applications brought against him by the Zondo commission. The apex court moved swiftly to set the matter down for hearing on Monday, issuing directions last Saturday.
ANALYSIS | Constitutional Court inefficiency affects access to justice
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | News24
The Constitutional Court. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks Heavier caseloads, delayed judgments and budget cuts at the Constitutional Court impact the meting out of justice, writes Lawson Naidoo and Dan Mafora. When it was first established, the Constitutional Court was intended to be a specialist court, like many of its global counterparts. It was to deal only with constitutional matters, with the Supreme Court of Appeal being the apex court for non-constitutional matters.
VOICES | 30 years of strengthening democracy, SA’s constitutional order
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | City Press
‘I will not lose to a junior’ vows defiant Ndlovu…
Setting the record straight on IEC’s appeal
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Daily Maverick
ROAD TO 2024 ELECTIONS OP-ED The IEC’s decision to appeal the Electoral Court’s order setting aside its own decision to uphold an objection against the candidacy of former president Zuma for the National Assembly has triggered an avalanche of commentary, most of it misleading and mistaken.
Don’t let dirty politics and high-stakes hysteria undermine the IEC
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Sunday Times
Don’t let dirty politics and high-stakes hysteria undermine the IEC It is time to stand with the electoral commission, not against it 17 March 2024 – 00:00 By LAWSON NAIDOO and Dan Mafora With a little over 10 weeks to election day, politicking inevitably gets dirtier and more desperate.
SA needs an anti-corruption framework that is fit for purpose
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Sunday Times
SA needs an anti-corruption framework that is fit for purpose There must be the political will to organise our state agencies so they can tackle graft effectively 17 December 2023 – 00:00 By LAWSON NAIDOO and Dan Mafora ..
VOICES | SA needs a comprehensive approach to corruption | City Press
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | City Press
The recommendations by the Zondo commission, which was chaired by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, have not been fully implemented. VOICESAnti-corruption Week on 3-9 December, offered an opportunity for us to reflect on the progress made towards improving South Africa’s anti-corruption machinery. South Africans need to be in the know if we want to create a prosperous future. News24 has kept the country informed for 25 years, and we’re about to enter a new chapter of fearless journalism.
LAWSON NAIDOO AND DAN MAFORA: Top court vacancy shows JSC must reform to attract officials
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Business Day
As the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) convenes its first biannual session of interviews of candidates for appointment to the superior courts on Monday, it will not interview any candidates for a vacancy in the Constitutional Court created by the departure of justice Sisi Khampepe in late 2021. In April 2022 the JSC interviewed five candidates for two vacancies, but only recommended four candidates.
Parliament needs to take control of impeachment inquiry
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Business Day
It is in terms of those rules that DA MP Natasha Mazzone first tabled a motion in the house, and the independent panel that found that a preliminary case for Mkhwebane’s removal was present was appointed. Once the National Assembly had resolved to establish the committee, she became the subject of removal proceedings, and the president was empowered to suspend her.
ANC’s plan to neuter party funding law raises red flags
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Business Day
In part one of the state capture commission report, acting chief justice Raymond Zondo highlights the need to strengthen legislation relating to corruption in political party financing. The report states: “It is a matter of extreme concern that the evidence given at the commission establishes a link between the corrupt grant of tenders and political party financing. Such a link can represent an existential threat to our democracy.
Stagnant remuneration threatens judicial independence
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Business Day
One of the ways in which the independence of the judiciary is guaranteed by the constitution is the security of tenure enjoyed by judges. Once appointed they can only be removed on limited grounds and following an onerous and robust process culminating in a vote in the National Assembly. This serves to insulate judges from external pressures and influences by removing both the prospect of financial enticement and the threat of removal from office.
Appointing the next Chief Justice: A matter of grave importance
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | City Press
The office of the Chief Justice of South Africa is the most coveted judicial office in the country. Despite the enormous contribution that Chaskalson made to human rights jurisprudence and the liberation struggle, the colour of his skin would have negated all that, at least in their minds. The Constitution provides that appropriately qualified, fit and proper persons may be appointed as judges.
Lawson Naidoo and Dan Mafora | New chief justice has to guide the ConCourt through a myriad of challenges
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | News24
Lawson Naidoo and Dan Mafora | Moving SSA to the Presidency: It is oversight that matters
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | News24
Dr Sydney Mufamadi was appointed as the President’s National Security Advisor last week.
Lawson Naidoo and Dan Mafora | ConCourt Zuma judgment a ‘courageous act’ of judicial independence
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | News24
Jacob Zuma is attempting an appeal via the back door
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | Business Day
As far as desperate attempts go, former president Jacob Zuma’sapplication to rescind the Constitutional Court’s order finding him guilty of contempt and sentencing him to 15 months’ imprisonment is a classic. The application was filed on July 2 after the former president had refused to participate in the two court applications brought against him by the Zondo commission. The apex court moved swiftly to set the matter down for hearing on Monday, issuing directions last Saturday.
ANALYSIS | Constitutional Court inefficiency affects access to justice
| By Lawson Naidoo, Dan Mafora | News24
The Constitutional Court. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks Heavier caseloads, delayed judgments and budget cuts at the Constitutional Court impact the meting out of justice, writes Lawson Naidoo and Dan Mafora. When it was first established, the Constitutional Court was intended to be a specialist court, like many of its global counterparts. It was to deal only with constitutional matters, with the Supreme Court of Appeal being the apex court for non-constitutional matters.
