Of the many reservations and doubts that were bandied around on the suitability or otherwise of Justice Mogoeng to serve at the Chief Justice very little, if any, remain.

Mogoeng made most of his critics eat humble pie when he, like it would be expected of a wise man, was proactive and responded to all criticisms that were leveled at him ahead of his appearance before the Judicial Service Commission.

He showed a clear sense of anticipation and cut the work of the JSC short; but even that did not spare him the unprecedented roasting by members of the commission. Some doubting Thomases among the commission members saw light of day when they met the man eyeball to eyeball. They came to appreciate that the introvert he is has not hidden his sense of wit. The two day long interview he endured has gone on to prove that he is made of sterner stuff. He will be able to live up to the rigours of the office especially when he fully knows that he has to watch his back.

There is very little or nothing at all to prove on his part if 16 out of 23 members of the commission gave him the nod. This is a 70% score! It is a distinction pass when it is borne in mind that some of the commissioners were not objective in their questioning. They had set out to ensure that he would not make the grade. He succeeded in stating his case without any doubt.

Human frailty will always surface in life; but Mogoeng never, even at the interview, failed to set the record straight by acknowledging his limitations for which he apologized.

Of interest is that some self appointed protagonists against the nominee for the office of Chief Justice had gone around bandying names of formations and institutions that according those protagonists, were against the nomination. It is gratifying that the Wits School of Law would not allow their name to be dragged in the mud by the DA claiming that they are opposed to the nomination.

It is equally misleading to say the ID is also against Mogoeng’s elevation to Chief Justice as the ID and the DA have in effect benignly fused into one party. Equally important is the tacit retraction by the ACDP from their earlier statement that Mogoeng lacked experience when they in fact lacked in-depth knowledge about him.

We do not want to gloat and say we have been vindicated on what we held but it is important for our compatriots not to forget that all that glitters is not gold.

The roasting Mogoeng received on the issue of gays, women and religion will surely make him wiser and he has said it upfront that all these instances need not fear as there is a constitution to uphold.

South Africans need to move forward and leave behind all other issues that separated them and look forward to those that will unite them.

Sent by: Sipho Mfundisi
(Deputy President: UCDP)