Pull-out exhausts JSC
One of the candidates for the post has been accused of unduly benefiting from a mining deal meant to assist his poor rural village.
The JSC will now have to advertise the post for a third time.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said the JSC discontinued the interviews of other candidates after Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Lebotsang Bosielo withdrew his candidacy yesterday, 4 October 2016.
The Constitutional Court vacancy became available following the retirement of Justice Johann van der Westhuizen in January.
Mogoeng said the attorney who lodged the complaint alleged that Bosielo was benefiting from a partnership with the Northam Platinum Mines in the North West, through his relationship with his wife.
She had allegedly been appointed as director of an investment vehicle of the community trust which benefited from the mining deal.
Mogoeng said the attorney claimed that the director's credentials reflected in company documents pointed to Bosielo.
The chief justice also indicated that there were allegations that Bosielo had been involved in a royal dispute.
"His withdrawal put us in this difficult position in that we were not going to be able to comply with this constitutional requirement," Mogoeng said.
The JSC had to apologise to the other candidates because the constitution requires that the commission recommends four names for consideration.
Bosielo denied benefiting unduly from the deal.
"You are dealing with somebody (the complainant) who is paranoid. I am not a director or a shareholder," said Bosielo.
The JSC would only probe the allegations if a call for an investigation was formally lodged, said Mogoeng.
Source: The Times