For the first time in history, a South African will serve as a judge of the International Court of Justice. Prof Dire Tladi has made his country proud!
Global (10 November 2023) — South African Professor of International Law at the University of Pretoria, Prof Dire Tladi has made history for South Africa after being voted in as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Prior to the Professor’s appointment, no South African has ever served as a judge of one of the world’s most important global courtrooms.
“His appointment as the first South African judge at the ICJ, will undoubtedly raise the important voice of Africa and contribute to shaping a safer and more equitable world for all,” said Dr Heide Hackmann, Director of Future Africa.
Located at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the ICJ comprises 15 judges who are elected by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council, serving a 9-year term. They are anointed with a pivotal role in settling legal disputes between states amongst their advisory positions that extend to international legal matters.
“I am filled with mixed emotions—excitement, elation, and a touch of nervousness. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude because so many people played a role in this journey. The entire experience has been humbling, especially navigating through the challenges of an intense campaign, and juggling various responsibilities over the past few months. The announcement and the tense process have undoubtedly taken a toll, but I’m absolutely ecstatic and profoundly humbled by the experience,” Professor Tladi shared of this milestone moment for both him and his country.
In addition to his position at the University of Pretoria and as the Research Chair of Future’s Africa (a pan-African collaborative research platform at UP), Prof Tladi has also held several important positions within international law spheres, including serving as the Chair of the International Law Commission. He has also acted as the legal adviser of the South African mission in New York and as a Special Adviser to the South African Foreign Minister.
In an international landscape where various organs of responsibility and decision-making are still largely dominated by the Global North, Professor Tladi’s election as a judge of the ICJ flags a sign of the times and a push towards a more equitable international force of decision-makers.
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