Candidate faces JSC backlash for ‘that woman’ remark

THE Judicial Service Commission (JSC) yet again experienced some uncomfortable moments yesterday during its interviews to fill vacancies in the superior court across the country - this time when Chief Justice Mandisa Maya had to rebuke a candidate for referring to a female who had lodged a complaint against him, as “that woman”.

- ZELDA VENTER

ATTORNEY Malizo Gwagwa.

(OCJ)

This was during the interview of an attorney, Malizo Gwagwa who was the first to take the hotseat to fill one of the vacancies in the KwaZulu Natal Division of the High Court.

He was questioned about a complaint by the sister of a deceased who claimed that he did not comply with his legal obligations in finalising the estate of the deceased.

Gwagwa's remark in referring to her as “that woman” prompted Justice Maya to tell Gwagwa that he could have referred to the complainant in a more respectful way. Gwagwa apologised and explained he could not recall her name. He added that he did respect women and he did not mean his reference to her as “that woman” be disrespectful.