PRETORIA, 17 September 2021 – The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) congratulates the Chairperson of the SANAC Civil Society Forum and Co-Chairperson of the Council, Ms. Steve Letsike, for her appointment as a panelist to shortlist candidates for South Africa’s next Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.
Ms. Letsike has been appointed alongside other eminent persons with exceptional experience in social justice and human rights such as the former Public Protector Adv. Thuli Madonsela, former Minister Jeff Radebe, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola and Prof. Ziyad Motala. The ad hoc panel will be chaired by the former Judge of the International Court of Justice and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Judge Navi Pillay. Their task is to assess and shortlist candidates and make recommendations to the President for the Judicial Services Commission, which will conduct interviews of the shortlisted candidates.
Ms. Letsike brings a wealth of experience in this role for numerous reasons – she co-chairs the SANAC Plenary, the Council’s highest decision-making structure, alongside Deputy President David Mabuza. Letsike is also a highly respected social justice and gender activist who founded Access Chapter 2, a human rights organization that focuses on the promotion and protection of rights of LGBTQI+ populations and women. She is a fierce and unapologetic feminist and a vocal activist on issues affecting key and vulnerable populations. For Letsike, this appointment is important not only for the experience and wealth of work, but for an openly young black lesbian woman, confirms inclusivity and diversity that is needed in South Africa.
SANAC has full confidence in her ability to execute this role with distinction and that she will ensure the consideration of matters of human rights, as well as the protection of vulnerable and marginalized populations during deliberations on the best candidate to succeed Chief Justice Mogoeng, whose term will end on 11 October 2021.
For media queries please contact: Nelson Dlamini, SANAC Communications on 078 731 0313 / nelson@sanac.org.za
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