WC Deputy Judge President Goliath tells JSC she inherited a division 'in a dire state'

CAPE TOWN - Western Cape High Court Deputy Judge President Patricia Goliath said that she inherited a division in a "dire state" when she took over in December 2022.
 
She’s been acting as judge president for almost two years after John Hlophe was suspended amid impeachment proceedings.
 
The state of the division was laid bare before the Judicial Service Commission on Monday, as Goliath vies to be permanently appointed.
 
Despite the relationship souring, Judge Goliath said that she was mentored by the former-judge-president-turned-politician, John Hlophe, and had the know-how and institutional memory to run the division.
 
Hlophe had run the Western Cape High Court division for more than two decades until he faced impeachment.
 
A judge of almost 19 years, Goliath told the JSC of the challenges she faced when she took over from her mentor.
 
"When I stepped into that position of acting judge president, the division was in a dire state. There were no judges' meetings held for a period of six years, the tea room was non-existent. The morale of the judges was low."
 
The JSC also heard that the director of public prosecutions and head of court operations were banned from the court buildings.
 
In a marathon interview, Goliath fended off criticism from fellow Judge Rosheni Allie that she was an authoritarian leader who did not give judges a voice.
 
Allie and Goliath were both candidates for the deputy judge president seat in 2016.
 
"I have an open-door policy. I'm certainly not a dictator. I can reassure this commission any judge can come and raise any issue with me."
 
Seven candidates are vying for the coveted job. Goliath turns 60 on Tuesday, leaving her with a maximum of a ten-year term.