Johannesburg – Advocate Tembeka Nicholas Ngcukaitobi SC has been sworn in as Acting Justice of the Constitutional Court by Deputy Chief Justice Dunstan Mlambo.
President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed 49-year-old Advocate Ngcukaitobi for a six-month term from 1 June to 30 November 2026 under Section 175(1) of the Constitution, to fill a temporary vacancy at the apex court.
(Source: facebook.com)
The ceremony on Thursday, 4 June 2026, witnessed by legal colleagues and dignitaries, saw Advocate Ngcukaitobi pledge faithfulness to the Republic of South Africa and uphold the Constitution.
He is believed to be the first Black advocate appointed directly from the Bar to act as a justice of the Constitutional Court.
(Source: legalbrief.co.za)
A prominent senior counsel admitted to the Johannesburg Bar in 2010 and awarded silk in 2020, Advocate Ngcukaitobi has argued high-profile cases, including the Nkandla challenge against former President Jacob Zuma on behalf of the Economic Freedom Fighters, represented Marikana massacre victims, and litigation that ultimately halted Shell’s seismic blasting on the Wild Coast.
He also acted for President Ramaphosa in the CR17 campaign funding matter.
(Source: timeslive.co.za)
Judicial observers have welcomed the appointment as a milestone for judicial transformation and Black excellence in the profession.
Advocate Ngcukaitobi, a member of the Judicial Service Commission with expertise in constitutional, public, labour, and land law, will serve alongside the court’s permanent bench during his acting stint.
(Source: sabcnews.com)
Disclaimer: This article was compiled using the AI tool Grok on X and may contain inaccuracies
