Johannesburg – The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is inviting members of the public, the legal profession, civil society organisations and other interested stakeholders to submit comments on its Consolidated Criteria, Guidelines and Procedure.
On 5 October 2026, the JSC resolved to consolidate its:
- Criteria and Guidelines for Judicial Appointment published for comment on 27 October 2022 and approved in April 2023;
- revised and updated procedure approved on 13 April 2026 subject to the public consultation process and published for comment on 17 August 2026; and
- approach to breaches of its members’ duties of confidentiality, legal obligations and/or ethical standards.
The JSC invites interested persons and organisations to submit written comments on the Consolidated Criteria, Guidelines and Procedure.
The Consolidated Criteria, Guidelines and Procedure are available on the South African Judiciary website: https://tinyurl.com/ymeub6hs, alternatively on the Constitutional Court website: www.concourt.org.za.
Written submissions should clearly identify the provision or provisions of the Consolidated Criteria, Guidelines and Procedure to which the comments relate and, where appropriate, should propose alternative wording or amendments.
Persons/Organisations who wish to hand-deliver their written comments may do so either at the Office of the Chief Justice, 188, 14th Road, Noordwyk, Midrand, or at the Constitutional Court.
Written comments should be submitted to:
The Secretariat of the JSC
Office of the Chief Justice
Private Bag X10, Marshalltown
Johannesburg, 2017
Tel : (010) 493 2633 alternatively
Email : MSongca@judiciary.org.za and SMthombeni@judiciary.org.za
Cc : JSC@judiciary.org.za
OR
The Registrar’s Office
Constitutional Court of South Africa
1 Hospital Street
Braamfontein
2017
Comments must be received by 30 November 2026.
The JSC acknowledged that it has already received comments on the revised and updated procedure from: Freedom Under Law (FUL); G Narayansamy; Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF); Institute for Governance and Law (IGL); Judges Matter / DGRU; Krish Govender; Law Society of South Africa (LSSA); Mxolisi Mazingi and the Parliamentary Office of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CPLO).
The JSC said it will consider the aforesaid comments and also all further comments received on the Consolidated Criteria, Guidelines and Procedure within the prescribed period before determining the final form of the Consolidated Criteria, Guidelines and Procedure.
The JSC added that it “appreciates the participation of members of the public and stakeholders in strengthening the transparency, integrity and effectiveness of the judicial appointment process”.
After the JSC has considered all comments and made such revisions to its procedure as it may consider appropriate, it intends to request the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to publish the procedure in the Government Gazette.
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