Ramaphosa commends first South African appointed to International Court of Justice

0
177

President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated the first South African to be elected by the United Nations as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

On Thursday evening, the UN Presidency of the General Assembly and Security Council announced that Professor Dire Tladi had been chosen for a nine-year term on the ICJ.

Following the announcement, Tladi took to his X page and said: Thank you so much to everyone… this is overwhelming… it really is.

Tladi was elected alongside Bogdan-Lucian Aurescu from Romania, Hilarly Charlesworth from Australia, Sarah Hull Cleveland from the US, and Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo Verduzco from Mexico.

In a statement on Friday, Ramaphosa congratulated Tladi. In May, the Cabinet had endorsed his nomination by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) to serve on the ICJ.

“Prof Tladi’s election as a judge of the International Court of Justice is an outstanding personal achievement in which the nation shares with great pride. We appreciate the confidence expressed by the United Nations in Prof Tladi’s capabilities,” the president said.

“He becomes the newest member of a fraternity of South Africans globally who are in positions of service to the international community and making important contributions to the better world we seek to build. We wish Prof Tladi well as he prepares to contribute to the court and its jurisprudence from the Palace of Peace in The Hague, Netherlands.”

Tladi is a professor of International Law at the University of Pretoria, and on Friday, the institution and its law faculty wished him well. The university said his election to the ICJ was “significant and commendable.”
In a September interview with Newzroom Afrika about his nomination, Tladi said he was surprised to receive a call from Dirco informing him about the process of nominating someone to serve on the ICJ, and whether he would be interested.

“And of course, I said, ‘Yes, I would be interested,'” he said.

In the interview, he shared that the Cabinet had considered two other people, but a decision was made to settle with him.

“It was a surprise, in part, because it is something I had always hoped for, but I had always thought I would do it later. So, I had always hoped that sort of, in the next three or four years, I might, myself, approach the government and say, ‘Would you mind nominating me?’ So, it was a surprise to be asked out of the blue, and I was ecstatic.”

Asked what he would focus on if elected, Tladi responded that he was “driven by the concept of solidarity in international law” – and that the international legal system should focus its concern on those who are most marginalised.

“That is the contribution I hope to make to the court, amongst others. I think what is most important is for the individuals of the court to be objective, but always with this idea that ‘what is it that our international law can create.'”

Among many of his achievements, Tladi has served as a legal advisor to the South African diplomatic mission in New York and as a special advisor to the ministers of international relations.

Previous articleHon. Dcn. Chike Okafor votes in Okenanlogho Ward, Commends Gov. Hope Uzodimma for a statewide peaceful electoral process
Next articleBreaking: Diri Wins Bayelsa Governorship Election
Ikechukwu Anyanwu
PROFILE OF IKECHUKWU ANYANWU Ikechukwu Anyanwu is an Imo State born Nigerian. An Author, Public Speaker, Humanitarian, Blogger, Media Guru and Start-up Coach. He has inspired millions through Arise Africa Network Platform He Is Into Education, Media, Entertainment, Showbiz and Hospitality Industry. Having calved a nitche for himself as a leadership expert, human capital development and management consultant. He is currently the Chairman, Online Media practitioners Association of Nigeria, Imo State Chapter. Ceo Arise Africa Magazine, Founder Arise Africa Network – a non-profit organization. Face of Arise Africa, Managing Consultant GCFN Consult. Member, Imo State Bloggers Association. Ag National President, Association of Pageant CEO’s of Nigeria Human Resource Specialist and Leadership Coach with astute impact on many seeking to maximize their skills, intellectuals and innate potentials He has a track record of reproducing leaders and helping them to gain dominance within their nitch. Mr Anyanwu after a rich career that spanned for 18 years having worked as Human Resources Manger, Outlet Manager Rennys Foods Limited from 2004 – 2019, Management Consultant for various Quick Service Restaurants in Abuja, Enugu, Rivers State, Abia, Ebonyi, Kogi and Imo State is now focusing on helping young people to discover, develop their talents. He has built lots of platforms for young people of Africa to express their talents. He is passionate about writing, consulting, coaching and training. He blogs regularly via www.ariseafrika.com and has a thriving social media followership. He is a graduate of Sociology/Anthropology, Imo State University whose passion is to impart knowledge by educating, equipping and empowering young minds for the future. He is an alumni of Living Word Training Center He is also the West African Representative of All African Media Networks He is married to Mrs Carol Anyanwu and blessed with 3 sons.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here