Pretoria – Judicial watchdog Judges Matter has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi as an Acting Justice of the Constitutional Court, effective from next month.
The appointment, made in terms of Section 175(1) of the Constitution, will see Ngcukaitobi serve from 1 June to 30 November 2026.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has in terms of Section 175(1) appointed Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC as an Acting Justice of the Constitutional Court from 01 June 2026 to 30 November 2026.
Well deserved congratulations to the SC! pic.twitter.com/t9J7QFOeBB
— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) May 3, 2026
Ngcukaitobi, who specialises in constitutional, public, labour and land law, is expected to contribute significantly during his tenure.
His appointment has also been described as landmark, with reports indicating he is among the first Black advocates to be appointed directly from the Bar to the apex court in an acting capacity, Sunday Times reported.
He brings extensive experience from high-profile constitutional litigation, including representing victims of the Marikana massacre, participating in legal efforts to halt seismic blasting along the Wild Coast, and forming part of South Africa’s legal team in its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
According to SABC News, Research and advocacy officer Mbekezeli Benjamin said, “We are excited to see someone of the calibre of Advocate Ngcukaitobi appointed… even if it’s temporary,” noting that “he might hear up to 20 to 30 cases” over the six-month period.
Benjamin added that “he will add a lot of value” through participation in court deliberations and expressed hope that “he will get that opportunity” to write judgments during his acting stint.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
