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SEVEN TOP LAWYERS APPOINTED ACTING SUPREME COURT JUDGES

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MBABANE – The appointment of seven senior lawyers as acting judges of the Supreme Court was left untill the last minute as they were not only sworn-in yesterday but they immediately assumed their duties.


None of the new appointees are current permanent judges of the High Court, save for permanent Supreme Court Judges in Chief Justice (CJ) Bheki Maphalala, Phesheya Dlamini and Benjamin Odoki.
There was speculation surrounding the new appointees and who they would be.  The newly-appointed acting judges include Law Lecturer at the University of Swaziland (UNISWA) Maxine Langwenya and Legal Advisor in the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development John Sipho Magagula.


Others are Knox Mshumayeli Nxumalo, Mabandla Manzini, Zonke Magagula, Cyril Maphanga and Robert John Cloete.
The appointment of the seven senior lawyers brings the total number of the judges, who will form the Supreme Court, to 10. Manzini and Cloete are not new in the positions as they were once appointed acting judges of the Supreme Court.
The acting judges yesterday took oaths of execution and that of allegiance. In his speech, the CJ thanked His Majesty King Mswati III for the appointment of the acting judges.


CJ Maphalala said the appointments were not made by him as the CJ but by the King. He further mentioned that the newly-appointed acting judges were expected to preside over 76 appeals, which had been filed.
He described this as historic as previously, the Supreme Court used to hear and determined 30-40 cases.


The CJ said the number of appeals had significantly risen, which was an indication that a permanent Supreme Court was now required.
He said they trusted that soon they would have the appointment of permanent Supreme Court judges as negotiations were still ongoing.


According to the CJ, this would avail an opportunity for senior judges of the High Court to ascend and become permanent judges of the Supreme Court. He said this would not only avail an opportunity for senior judges of the High Court but also for senior lawyers.
“The session will last for almost two months beginning from May 3, 2016 (yesterday) to June 30, 2016. The extended period of the session has been necessitated by the large number of appeals and as a result, the judges would require sufficient time to research, discuss and write reasoned judgments,” said the CJ.

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