Chief Justice Takes “Long Leave”

By: Zilungile Mkhize

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Sisi Khampepe as acting Chief Justice to manage the Constitutional Court, while CJ Mogoeng Mogoeng is on long leave.

The Offince of the Chief Justice released a statement of Mogoeng’s long leave, effective from 01 May 2021.

Regulation 3 of the Judges’ Remuneration and Conditions of Employment Act, 2001 provides for Judges to take leave of three and half months for every period of four years’ actual service. This leave is referred to as long leave within the Judiciary.

“He accordingly informed the Minister and the President about his intention to take his long leave and requested that Justice Khampepe be appointed as Acting Deputy Chief Justice which the President has duly done,” the statement reads.

Khampepe began her tenure this week and is the first woman to fill the post.

Mogoeng’s deputy, Raymond Zondo, is busy running the commission of inquiry into state capture.

Mogoeng’s term comes to an end at the end of October and his final years saw him involved in controversies around the country’s policy on Israel and COVID-19-vaccination.