Issued by: Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development
21 November 2001
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Dr Penuell Maduna hereby announces that the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Amendment Act, 2001 (Act No 34 of 2001) has been published to today's Gazette and came into operation with immediate effect. This means that, as of today, Justice Arthur Chaskalson holds the office of Chief Justice of South Africa, and Justice Pius Langa is now the Deputy Chief Justice. The offices held by these Honourable Justices were formerly known as those of President and Deputy President of the Constitutional Court, respectively. The Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein is now headed by the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, namely Justice Joos Hefer. He will be assisted by a Deputy President, who at this stage is Mr Justice Werner Vivier.
The amendments relating to the offices referred to above, is well as the amendment regarding the term of office of Constitutional Court judges, necessitated certain changes to the legislation pertaining to the conditions of service of judges. Parliament has, for this purpose, passed the new Judges' Remuneration and Conditions of Employment Act, 2000 (Act No 47 of 2001), which will come into operation when the Act is published in the Gazette tomorrow. In terms of this Act a Constitutional Court judge stays on in office as such if he or she:- at the attainment of 70 years; or at the expiry of a 12 year term in such office has not performed 15 years' active service. It is on the strength of these provisions that our new Chief Justice will be fulfilling his role as Chief Justice and Constitutional Court Judge.
Issued by Paul Setsetse on behalf of the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development.
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