Tuks Professor in SA history books to serve in International Court
The UP Professor is the first South African to serve as a judge of the International Court of Justice, widely known as the World Court.
A professor of international law at the University of Pretoria is in the history books as he has been elected to serve as a judge in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The appointment has been welcomed by President Cyril Ramaphosa who offered warm congratulations to Prof Dire Tladi.
The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and one of the six principal bodies of the UN. Its role is to settle debates on international law, legal disputes submitted to it by member states, and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorised United Nations organs and specialized agencies.
“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,” said Ramaphosa.
“We appreciate the confidence expressed by the United Nations in Prof Tladi’s capabilities.”
“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.”
CABINET ENDORSES PROFESSORS NOMINATION TO THE PERMENANT COURT OF ARBITRATION
In May 2023, Cabinet endorsed Professor Tladi’s nomination to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and the announcement was made on November 9, 2023, by the President of the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council after rigorous voting rounds.
The court, a body of the United Nations sitting in the Hague in the Netherlands, comprises 15 judges elected by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council for a nine-year term.
UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA’S ON HISTORIC APPOINTMENT
The University of Pretoria’s Future Africa congratulated Professor Dire Tladi on his historic appointment as judge of the ICJ.
“Prof Tladi’s election marks a historic moment as he becomes the first South African to serve as a judge of the International Court of Justice.”
Director of Future Africa Dr Heide Hackmann, welcomed Professor Tladi’s appointment as a milestone in the pursuit of global peace and justice.
“We are extremely proud of Prof Tladi,” he said,
“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.
“We look forward to witnessing the positive influence his expertise will have and commit our support to him in taking on this important international role.”
Professor Tladi expressed a mix of emotions.
“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 has held several key positions within the field of international law, including serving as the chair of the International Law Commission, an organ of the United Nations renowned for its contributions to the International Court of Justice. He has provided his invaluable expertise as the legal adviser to the South African mission in New York and as a special adviser to the South African foreign minister.
Tladi has published well over 100 academic publications – articles, books and chapters in books – and holds a BLC LLB (cum laude) from the University of Pretoria, an LLM from the University of Connecticut and a Ph.D. from Erasmus University Rotterdam. He was a member of the United Nations (UN) International Law Commission from 2012 to 2022.
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