Women often don’t last in the legal profession because they move to positions in civil service so they can buy Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs.
This was the comment of one of the candidates vying for the deputy judge president position in the Limpopo division during an interview on Thursday by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Judge Nare Kgomo told the commission: “I was saying that the many woman entering the profession didn’t last…They would always be offered positions in the civil service‚ and in those positions they would be entitled to expensive motor vehicles…That lady who has gone to civil service as a legal advisory of a department is lost for the profession.”
But Economic Freedom Front leader Julius Malema‚ who is a commissioner‚ did not let the comment slide‚ and called Kgomo out for being sexist.
“It is becoming more difficult for me sitting here‚ listening to judges who are becoming spinners at the same time…Saying woman of substance are not here because they have gone to opportunities where they can get a Mercedes Benz and BMW is sexist.”
Kgomo retorted that it was not meant to be a sexist statement‚ but rather a “factual statement”.
Kgomo also told Justice Minister Michael Masutha that he was not casting any aspersions on public service officials‚ and that it was an “unfortunate situation” that he said these things.
Commissioner McCaps Motimele said the statement went to Kgomo’s “judgment and discretion“.
“Where I am sitting‚ I represent the profession. The profession is crying out for transformation in relation to work for both black practitioners and for woman. The excuse is that good ones run after Mercedes Benzes. You have heard it before‚ it would be insensitive‚ yes?” asked Motimele.
He then called Kgomo out for his nomination letter‚ which was written by various support staff whom included another judge’s secretary and his own personal secretary.
But Kgomo claimed he knew nothing of this nomination discussion until it landed in front of him.
Kgomo is up against judges Fikile Mokgohloa and Legodi Phatudi for the job.
The JSC started interviewing 34 candidates for various vacancies at higher courts around the country on Monday.
The commission consists of 23 representatives from different structures of government and the South African legal community‚ including Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.
– TMG Digital/Sunday Times
Malema revved up over judge’s car comments at JSC interviews
Women often don’t last in the legal profession because they move to positions in civil service so they can buy Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs.
This was the comment of one of the candidates vying for the deputy judge president position in the Limpopo division during an interview on Thursday by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Judge Nare Kgomo told the commission: “I was saying that the many woman entering the profession didn’t last…They would always be offered positions in the civil service‚ and in those positions they would be entitled to expensive motor vehicles…That lady who has gone to civil service as a legal advisory of a department is lost for the profession.”
But Economic Freedom Front leader Julius Malema‚ who is a commissioner‚ did not let the comment slide‚ and called Kgomo out for being sexist.
“It is becoming more difficult for me sitting here‚ listening to judges who are becoming spinners at the same time…Saying woman of substance are not here because they have gone to opportunities where they can get a Mercedes Benz and BMW is sexist.”
Kgomo retorted that it was not meant to be a sexist statement‚ but rather a “factual statement”.
Kgomo also told Justice Minister Michael Masutha that he was not casting any aspersions on public service officials‚ and that it was an “unfortunate situation” that he said these things.
Commissioner McCaps Motimele said the statement went to Kgomo’s “judgment and discretion“.
“Where I am sitting‚ I represent the profession. The profession is crying out for transformation in relation to work for both black practitioners and for woman. The excuse is that good ones run after Mercedes Benzes. You have heard it before‚ it would be insensitive‚ yes?” asked Motimele.
He then called Kgomo out for his nomination letter‚ which was written by various support staff whom included another judge’s secretary and his own personal secretary.
But Kgomo claimed he knew nothing of this nomination discussion until it landed in front of him.
Kgomo is up against judges Fikile Mokgohloa and Legodi Phatudi for the job.
The JSC started interviewing 34 candidates for various vacancies at higher courts around the country on Monday.
The commission consists of 23 representatives from different structures of government and the South African legal community‚ including Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.
– TMG Digital/Sunday Times
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