In 2026, the DGRU has made a number of submissions to Parliament, the JSC and the DOJCD.
Parliament
We made a submission and a presentation to the Justice Portfolio Committee on the draft SAJEI Amendment Bill
We made a presentation to the Justice Portfolio Commitee on our 2025 Submission on the Judicial Matters Amendment Bill
The JSC and Judiciary
We made a submission on the Judicial Service Commission Procedures for Shortlisting, Interviewing and Recommending Candidates for Judicial Appointment and Regarding Breaches of Members’ Duties of Confidentiality, Law and Ethical Standards
Following the JSC’s adoption of new criteria for judicial appointment1 in April 2023,Judges Matter has been monitoring progress towards the implementation of these criteria and the impact this has on the JSC’s general interview process. Judges Matter has undertaken a research project to measure how the JSC adheres to criteria through its interviews through a ‘scorecard’ approach. We submitted a report on our findings to the JSC in October 2026
We made a submission to the Judicial Accountability Committee of the Heads of Courts Forum as part of their review process of the Norms and Standards for Performance of Judicial Functions
In February 2022, the Judicial Service Commission will be interviewing four candidates to be South Africa’s next Chief Justice: Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, Justice Mandisa Maya, Judge President Dunstan Mlambo and Deputy Chief Justice Zondo. The DGRU has prepared a comment on the criteria for a Chief Justice and profiles of the four candidates.
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Read the results of the high level vetting exercise of the 62 nominations/applications received for the position of Public Protector. This vetting exercise was conducted by Corruption Watch and the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit.
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In August 2011, President Zuma nominated Constitutional Court Judge Mogoeng Mogoeng as the nation's next chief justice, overlooking several more experienced jurists for the post.
There was widespread outcry to this nomination with a number of legal and civil society organstiations making submissions to the JSC in this regard. The JSC interviewed Judge Mogoeng on Saturday 3 September.
The DGRU made a submission to the JSC in preparation for their interview of Judge Mogoeng on Saturday 3 September 2011.
Read the Women's Legal Centre submission
Read the Southern African Litigation Centre research on Judge Mogoeng. This is not a formal submission
Read the submission by United States law professors
Read Freedom under Law's submission
Read Judge Mogoeng's application for the post
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Expanding on its 2010 submission on the proposals to make the Constitututional Court the apex court in all matters, the DGRU made a further submission in August 2011.
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On 26 July 2011, the public were invited to make submissions on the draft Judges' Remuneration and Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill to parliament. DGRU staff made an oral submission.
Prof Richard Calland, director of the DGRU, told the committee that the proposed changes in the bill "remains constitutionally problematic".
Read a business day article which quotes Prof Calland.
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The DOJCD recently announced proposed amendments to the Constitution.
In light if this , DGRU made a submission. to the DOJCD with specific reference to proposed changes to Concourt judges tenure and the establisment of the Consitutional Court as an "apex" court.
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