JUSTICE MADLANGA BREAKS HIS SILENCE, ITS FINALLY OVER RAMAPHOSA

On February 1st, 2022, Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga walked into the room. He was the very first candidate interviewed to become the next Chief Justice of South Africa. And the Judicial Service Commission did not hold back. Right out of the gate, Madlanga set the room on fire. In a country fighting a horrific crisis of gender-based violence, he stood before the panel and proudly declared himself a feminist. But this wasn't just a buzzword. Madlanga argued that South African judges need to actively unlearn what he called "misogynistic attitudes" when ruling on cases. For him, the law isn't a rigid, dusty old book. He views the Constitution as a living, breathing weapon meant to smash systemic patriarchy and uplift the most vulnerable people in society. It was a bold opening move that immediately won over progressive viewers. But then, the interrogation turned to the messy inner workings of the apex court. Madlanga exposed a bizarre structural flaw that leaves many legal experts scratching their heads. Currently, the Constitutional Court can hear cases with a quorum of eight judges. An even number. Madlanga bluntly stated that this rule "just doesn't make sense" because an even split creates massive deadlocks where no decision can be made. He demanded a constitutional amendment to fix it. Sources & Credits: Video clips and information used under Fair Use for news reporting, commentary, criticism, and public interest discussion. Credits include: SABC News #madlanga