Advocate Gregory Ally, who nominated himself to be interviewed for the position of a judge in the Gauteng Division of the High Court, had a difficult time explaining to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) why he appointed himself as candidate.
The JSC is conducting interviews to fill 26 judicial vacancies in various courts around the country.
According to the JSC criteria for appointment, amongst other requirements, applicants must be recommended by the Judge President to be considered for an interview.
However, the JSC learned during his interview that Ally had recommended himself.
This came after Ally was grilled on the outstanding and late judgments he has delivered.
“Who nominated you, who nominated you as a candidate,” asked JSC’s Mvuzo Notyesi.
“I nominated myself,” Ally replied.
“Who accepted the nomination,” asked Notyesi
After a long pause, Ally couldn’t come up with a clear answer which led Notyesi to simplify his question.
“You nominated yourself and you accepted your own nomination, isn’t that the advert requires that people must be nominated, did you read the advert? asked Notyesi.
Ally said he wasn’t going to debate this because on the advert, it never stated who should do the nomination.
Notyesi said Ally was wrong and should not be part of the interviewees.
“I think at this stage, we should end your interview and that’s what I’m going to argue, that you are not supposed to be here.
Ally said he applied and was shortlisted hence he came to the interview.
Chief Justice Mandisa Maya added that she also saw that Ally nominated himself but didn’t pay much attention to his application.
“This is was quote bizarre to say the least,” Maya said.
Earlier, before the JSC learned of Ally’s unusual application, Maya said she was worried that as an acting judge, Ally took longer than expected before delivering judgments.
Maya pointed out that Ally had six judgments which were delivered at least after a year and some were later than six months.
Furthermore, she said the general council of the bar found that he had at least three more judgments which were still outstanding.
Ally said he can’t remember the judgments from top of his head and he wasn’t also denying that there might be outstanding judgments.
Maya added that this was worrying because according to the practice, judgments have to be delivered within three months and no later than six months.
“And here you are with a whole pile of late judgments and some are even over a year,” Maya said.
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