Judge faces tribunal over delayed judgments

Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela of the Gauteng High Court will appear before a Judicial Conduct Tribunal today. The tribunal, led by retired Constitutional Court Justice Chris Jafta, is expected to probe a complaint lodged by Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo against Judge Maumela.

Mlambo’s complaint centres around alleged excessive delays by Judge Maumela in handing down a significant number of judgments. Judge Maumela was suspended in June 2023 while presiding over the high-profile Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.

In April 2023, the Judicial Services Commission recommended that Judge Maumela and Justice Nomonde Mngqibisa-Thusi be suspended pending the outcome of an inquiry after complaints about them delaying judgments. At the time, it was believed that some of Judge Maumela’s judgments had been outstanding for periods ranging from seven to 26 months.

The accusations of undue delays in delivering judgments are considered a serious breach of a judge’s responsibilities. Prolonged delays can undermine public confidence in the judiciary and deny parties timely resolution of their legal matters.

Today’s tribunal proceedings will carefully examine the evidence and provide Judge Maumela an opportunity to respond to the allegations against him. Potential outcomes range from dismissal of the complaint to recommendations for appropriate disciplinary action if the delays are found to be unjustified.