Africa-Press – Eswatini. His Majesty King Mswati III has appointed 11 judges with immediate effect.
Announcing the appointments was the Chief Justice, Bheki Maphalala, during the swearing-in ceremony that was also attended by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Pholile Shakantu, held at the High Court building yesterday afternoon.
According to the chief justice, as the Judiciary, they were happy that His Majesty the King had appointed new judges at a time when the country’s courts had a backlog of cases.
“We are happy as a Judiciary that His Majesty has appointed new judges at a time when the country’s courts have a serious backlog of over 2 000 cases,” said the chief justice.
Human Rights and Integrity Commission Commissioner, Sabelo Masuku, has been confirmed as judge of the High Court after earlier being appointed on an acting basis.
Magriet Van De Walt has been appointed judge of the Supreme Court.
Judge Mbutfo Donatus Mamba has been elevated as judge of the Supreme Court and Judith Marie Currie who has been acting Supreme Court judge has now been appointed permanent judge of the Supreme Court.
The CJ also announced that Andreas Mfaniseni Lukhele who has been acting Supreme Court judge has now been appointed as Industrial Court of Appeal judge.
Muzikayise Agrippa Motsa, Velaphi Zakhele Dlamini and Lungile Msimango have been appointed judges of the Industrial Court while Mabandla Manzini has been appointed as acting Supreme Court judge for a period of three months.
Appointments
Other appointments were that of Thami Lawrence Dlamini who has been appointed acting judge of the High Court and Banele Ngcamphalala who has been appointed acting judge of the Industrial Court.
On another note, the chief justice announced that Lomvula Hlophe had been recalled from the ministry of natural resources and energy where she had been deployed as Under Secretary after serving in the Ministry of Justice as a Principal Crown Counsel for some time.
Sick leave
The chief justice said he was happy to announce that His Majesty had appointed Hlophe to the position of acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
She takes over from Phila Dlamini who has requested to retire on medical grounds. Dlamini is currently on sick leave.
When announcing Hlophe’s appointment, the chief justice stated that she was a highly experienced legal practitioner, especially when it came to gender issues as she had dealt with a number of cases touching on gender, sexual offences and domestic violence, among others.
“The DPP is not well as he is constantly in and out of hospitals. We are happy that when we met with the ministry of natural resources where she was under secretary, they released Hlophe back to the ministry of justice to serve in her new position,” the chief justice said.
Meanwhile, the chief justice said the Commercial Court was now fully functional with three judges, clerks and support staff and added that it was the Judiciary’s wish that the country could have at least 100 magistrates as currently the country had only 25 servicing the kingdom.
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