A close race is expected, with two heavyweight candidates, Judges Mojapelo and Mlambo, believed to be the frontrunners.
Senior lawyers said it was "as it should be" that the JSC would be faced with such a tough choice. The high courts that serve SA's economic hub are the two busiest courts in the country and tend to deal with the most complex commercial and administrative law matters. Running these courts efficiently is probably one of the hardest judicial jobs. And in addition to administrative duties, Judge Presidents decide what cases get allocated to which judges and are expected to preside over the most contentious or high profile cases. This makes who will replace Judge President Bernard Ngoepe when he retires this year a matter of intense interest.
According to Business Day, the National Association of Democratic Lawyers and the Black Lawyers Association - two important lobby groups - have thrown their weight behind Judge Mojapelo. He is also supported by a senior judge in his division, Judge Neels Claassen, and is understood to be popular among his colleagues.
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