Speaker, the Judicial Service Commission, JSC, is commended for short-listing 12 female lawyers as candidates for the October 2013 interviews for aspirant judges, and recommending a further seven who were duly appointed as judges by His Excellency President Jacob Zuma on 17 October 2013. This goes a long way in transforming the judiciary in terms of the Constitution of South Africa regarding gender imperatives.
The ANC calls upon all government departments and the private sector to give women lawyers legal work that will give them exposure, more empowerment, preparedness and availability for consideration as judges. The judiciary and male counterparts should give female lawyers opportunities to prove themselves. Malibongwe! [Praise!]
HON MEMBERS: Igama lamakhosikazi! [The name of women!] [Applause.]